OceanScore, in its latest report, has revealed significant hidden risks tied to Scope 3 emissions within the maritime sector, highlighting substantial variations in carbon intensity across shipping operations.
According to the company’s Scope 3 at Sea: Intra-Mediterranean & Black Sea Edition, emissions per voyage can differ by nearly tenfold depending on operational efficiency, vessel utilisation, and carrier practices. The findings underscore that even on identical trade routes and vessel types, performance discrepancies can lead to sharp differences in carbon output.
Data from the report shows that feeder vessels operating on shorter sea trades typically generate between 40–60 g CO₂ per tonne-kilometre, while larger vessels on extended voyages record lower averages of 7–16 g CO₂ per tonne-kilometre. Factors such as underutilised capacity and delays were found to significantly inflate emissions. In one example, a two-day idle period increased emissions from 9 to 38 g CO₂ per tonne-kilometre on a single voyage.
The study further emphasised that carrier behaviour and operational consistency play a more decisive role in emission intensity than vessel size or route length. Carriers maintaining steady load factors and predictable schedules averaged 17–21 g CO₂ per tonne-kilometre, while those with less stable operations recorded higher figures of around 30 g CO₂ per tonne-kilometre or more.
The report also points to vessel utilisation as a critical factor. Ships operating at approximately 70% load were found to emit 20–30% less CO₂ per tonne-kilometre compared to vessels running at 50% utilisation, reinforcing the connection between efficient loading and emission performance.
As regulatory frameworks such as the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime continue to tighten emission accountability, OceanScore’s findings indicate that the financial and compliance implications for carriers and cargo owners could be considerable. The company notes that relying on broad emission averages rather than voyage-specific data may result in misreporting and unforeseen carbon cost exposure.
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Source: AJOT
