Reduction of the greenhouse gas CO2 is one of the key goals which the global maritime industry has set itself. That is reflected in the programme of the global maritime environmental congress (gmec), to be held at the Hamburg Fair site on 3 and 4 September 2012, on the occasion of SMM, the world’s leading maritime industry fair. The first session of the second conference day will address “CO2 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions”, chaired by   Torsten Schramm, CEO of the classification society Germanischer Lloyd; it starts with an inventory of the current situation and covers the international regulations and market requirements, including the possibilities of trade in CO2 emission rights and the vision of zero emissions.
International shipping contributes only 2.7 % to global CO2 emissions, according to figures of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), but the awareness of the international shipping, shipbuilding and marine equipment industries of environmental and climate change issues has increased greatly in recent years. According to an IMO Greenhouse Gas survey conducted in 2007 with updates in 2008 and 2009, CO2 emissions from shipping in a “business as usual” scenario will increase from the current level of 1.12 billion tonnes to 1.475 billion tonnes in 2020.
In July 2011, IMO adopted binding regulations for effective action against the expected CO2 increase, significantly reducing fuel consumption of ships and hence CO2 emissions. These are based on the EEDI and SEEMP. The EEDI is the Energy Efficiency Design Index, which assesses the transport efficiency of a ship and applies to newbuildings in excess of 400 GT, ordered from 1 January 2013 onwards or to be delivered on or after 1 July 2015; it is measured in grams of CO2 per tonne and nautical mile. The maximum CO2 limits, which vary by ship type, will be reduced at three five-year intervals from 2015 onwards. The SEEMP is the Ships Energy Efficiency Management Plan, which regulates ship operation. It is likewise applicable from 1 January 2013 for all ships currently operating in the world merchant fleet.
An IMO study published in October last year on the long-term impact of the two new regulations on development of CO2 emissions of the world merchant fleet shows very positive assessments, analysing the various scenarios for economic growth and fuel price development. Compared with the business-as-usual scenario, the average annual savings of CO2 emissions resulting from EEDI and SEEMP are as much as 15 million tonnes in 2020, that is a 14 % reduction. In 2030 savings will be 330 million tonnes, that is an average reduction of 23 % per annum, and in 2050 as much as 1,013 million tonnes – a result of the reductions in fuel consumption induced by the two efficiency indices. At the same time there will be significant savings in fuel costs for the shipping industry. For example, a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) with deadweight tonnage of more than 200,000, which currently consumes 23,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, will only require 14,000 tonnes in 2030 if built in accordance with the EEDI requirements. For 2020 the experts expect annual fuel cost savings of about USD 50 billion, and in 2030 savings should be USD 200 billion.
Another way of reducing CO2 emissions is to use LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as an alternative to the conventional fuels heavy oil or marine diesel. The manufacturers of marine diesel engines have made this possible by development work resulting in dual fuel engines. Thus in December 2012 Meyer Werft will hand over its first LNG tanker using its own liquid payload as an alternative to the heavy oil normally used in its Wärtsilä main propulsion engine. The use of LNG will at the same time drastically reduce sulphur oxide and particulate emissions. LNG is therefore regarded by the experts of the classification society DNV as the preferred alternative to heavy oil and diesel oil, because the use of LNG automatically reduces emissions and enables ships with this propulsion system to operate without problems in Emission Controlled Areas (ECAs), that is areas subject to special limitations in emissions of sulphur oxide and other pollutants.
IMO is also in favour of “market based measures”, relying on the indirect impact of market incentives, such as taxation on fuels and emissions trading. The advantages and disadvantages of these two measures are currently the subject of intensive debate in the IMO bodies. At the same time the EU Commission is discussing the creation of an emissions trading system for ships in Europe, according to gmec Chairman Torsten Schramm. The market based measures could accelerate the development of efficiency technologies and drive forward further innovations such as the fuel cell as a propulsion system for freighters. GL believes that this development is one of the attainable future goals, which have to meet the criteria “safer, smarter and greener”, according to Torsten Schramm. A first step in this direction could be the use of hydrogen from a renewable energy generating system in short-distance coastal services for container and multi-purpose freighters, which would get their hydrogen fuel from offshore wind power facilities, directly at the point of production. Despite these perspectives, Torsten Schramm certainly does not regard marine diesels as an outdated model, pointing out that the high energy efficiency of the modern diesel engine ensures that it will continue to play a key role in shipping, provided that it runs on clean fuel, i.e. low-sulphur fuel or LNG.
SMM, shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair hamburg, held under the patronage of Chancellor Angela Merkel, is the top event of the international maritime industry, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year (4 to 7 September). Its highlights, alongside gmec, global maritime environmental congress, are the SMM Ship Finance Forum; and MS&D, international conference on maritime security and defence. The regular events also include the SMM Offshore Dialogue, held for the second time. Trade visitors from all parts of the world can also expect an extensive supporting programme with more than 150 programme items.
Source: SMM Hamburg