> FUTURE OF SHIPPING
Will all ships soon be green?
Shipping, like other sectors, is in the process of becoming more sustainable. So, should we transition to a different fuel? Yes, but that is only a small part of the measures that need to be taken
It's not something you see every day: a RORO ship with enormous sails on deck. But it's not just a mirage, because every shipowner has it on their agenda: reducing carbon emissions from ships. That means no more diesel and fuel oil. But that is only a small part of the CO2 puzzle. In fact, there are more ways to reduce carbon emissions.
Employees at shipping companies who are responsible for sustainability can divide the emissions cake into four pieces. First, they look at the ships themselves: how can they sail more efficiently? The second slice of cake is green fuel. Third, they are looking at more efficient operation. And the fourth slice of cake is behaviour.
Managing peaks Let's start with the first slice. A relatively simple way to make ships more sustainable is to make them travel slower. Sailing slower means less fuel consumption. In addition, more and more ships are equipped with hybrid propulsion systems. Anthony Veder has had positive experiences in this regard, says Björn van de Weerdhof, commercial and sustainability director. “A ship runs most efficiently when its power is as stable as possible. But sometimes you need extra power, in high waves, for example, or while manoeuvring. With a hybrid propulsion system, there is a battery that captures those power peaks. This allows the main engine to keep running as efficiently as possible.” Fully electric sailing is also possible, but currently only with smaller ships and on short routes. What is possible, however, is entering ports on battery power. “Once at the quay, ships can be connected to shore power.” This also places demands on the facilities ashore. Take a cruise ship, for example, it needs as much power as an average Dutch village. The power grid must be able to cope with that.
Unmanned vessels There are further opportunities for sustainability on board, such as insulation and heat recovery, pumps and fans that can run at variable speeds. But also sails on deck, replacing propeller blades and adjusting the bow shape. Research is also being conducted into whether CO2 can be recovered from flue gases so that it can be used to produce green LNG and methanol. Shipping company Fugro implemented a relatively simple modification: light-coloured paint on the deck. “A light colour absorbs less heat, which means that it also stays cooler under the deck and requires less cooling," explains Iris de Vos-Hermeler, global fleet sustainability manager at Fugro. “That tip came from a crew member. It's always nice when seafarers contribute their ideas.” Another adaptation at Fugro is the deployment of unmanned vessels, for example for soil surveys. “Those ships are small and need no accommodation because there is no one on board. This significantly reduces their carbon footprint. Unmanned ships emit up to 95 per cent less than standard ships.”
“When policymakers set the course, companies will take action”
Björn van de Weerdhof
“It’s always nice when seafarers contribute their ideas”
Iris de Vos-Hermeler
From start to finish The second slice of cake relates to fuel. This is not an easy issue because there are so many possibilities. And each shipowner chooses the option that best suits its fleet. In Anthony Veder's case, this is a mix of fossil fuel and (ultimately fully) bio or green e-LNG. An obvious choice, as the shipping company operates gas tankers and therefore complies with all regulations. Fugro now opts for methanol, which is easier to apply in that shipping company's vessels. Iris: “We can make our existing ships suitable for methanol.” How green a fuel is depends not only on its emissions during combustion, but also on its emissions during the production process. “We believe that you have to take into account emissions from start to finish, in other words, from well to wake,” says Björn. “That gives you the fairest comparison between fuels.”
Waiting payment When it comes to making operations more efficient, shipping companies are not only concerned with themselves, but also with their customers. For example, they want a ship to arrive on a certain date, which means it has to sail non-stop. Once at its destination, it turns out that the ship cannot enter the port and has to wait for a few days. Björn: “We receive a waiting payment for this, which means that fast – and inefficient – sailing is actually rewarded. We would like to discuss this with our customers and make agreements.”
Within shipping companies themselves, a great deal of coordination is also needed on the behavioural changes required to sail more sustainably. Iris: “We actively involve our crew through sustainability team meetings. These help provide insight into the sustainable goals and the changes needed to achieve them. It is crucial to get the entire organisation, from crew at sea to office staff, on board with this transition.”
Moving forward together Both Anthony Veder and Fugro have set ambitious sustainability targets: net zero operations by 2035. Far off? Björn: “We can only modify existing ships to a limited extent. When you consider that a ship has a lifespan of around twenty-five years, you realise that it will take a long time before the entire fleet has been made sustainable. For new-build ships, there are more options.” Iris: “As a relatively small shipping company, we are pleased that quite some major players are also opting for methanol. This promotes the availability of this fuel. We are certainly not waiting around; we have already converted our first survey and research vessel so that it can run on methanol.”
Politics also plays a decisive role, Björn says. “Legislation is often confusing and inefficient.” He advocates clearer and more effective rules, with choices being made about the use of renewable energy. “There are many ways to become more sustainable. If policymakers set the course with good legislation, companies will take action because they know they are making the right investments. Together, we must find the way forward.” ←