Carbon Emissions FAQ
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Q: What efforts are being made by the industry to reduce its carbon footprint?
A: The liner shipping industry continues its significant efforts to reduce its carbon emissions, through a wide variety of measures that can grouped into four categories explained in more detail below.
- Increasing Efficiency
A recent study by Lloyd's Register found that the fuel efficiency of container ships (4500 TEU capacity) has improved 35% between 1985 and 2008. If one compares today's largest ships with container vessels of the 1970s, the results are even more pronounced. A 1500 TEU container ship built in 1976 consumed 178 grams of fuel per TEU per mile (or 96 grams per TEU per kilometer) at a speed of 25 knots.
The fuel consumption per TEU per mile for a modern 12,000 TEU vessel, built in 2007, is only 44 grams (or 24 grams per TEU per kilometer). Looking at this example, carbon efficiency on a per mile per cargo volume basis has improved 75% in 30 years as a result of technological improvements and the utilization of larger vessels. This improvement is even greater if one considers that today's ships are operating at slower speeds that produce even greater reductions in fuel consumption. - Advancing Technology
The industry continues to seek engineering and technological solutions to increase its energy and carbon efficiency. Efforts are underway to engineer better hull and propeller designs, implement waste heat recovery, and reduce onboard power usage to minimize emissions. Moreover, the industry is studying opportunities to switch to lower carbon energy sources such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and bio-fuels. - Improving Operations
Industry members are implementing a wide range of operational strategies to reduce energy use. This includes employing advanced information technology to aid in operational decision-making to improve efficiency, including vessel routes, speeds, load factors, and other fleet management strategies that promote conservation. - Partnering for Progress
Many liner shipping companies are members of the Clean Cargo Working Group, and adhere to environmental stewardship guidelines established by Business for Social Responsibility. Members voluntarily track emissions, set efficiency targets, and examine ways to offset emissions through certified international programs. In addition to the wide range of steps the industry is taking on its own accord, the WSC and its members are working through the International Maritime Organization to develop uniform standards for improving the energy efficiency of ship designs and exploring what global legal structure would best serve to reduce carbon emissions from maritime shipping.
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