Ships take a blow

Merchant shipping tries out carbon-cutting solutions as true extent of emissions emerges

Hybrid container ships have arrived on a commercial scale.
Hybrid, that is, as in partly wind-powered. In a world first for a container vessel, the 10,000-tonne MS Beluga SkySails has been fitted with a computer-guided kite to help blow it along – taking some of the load off its oil-powered engine. Harnessing strong offshore winds, the kite can be released 300 metres above the ocean surface to save an estimated 20%, or $1,600, from the ship's daily fuel bill – sound economic practice with oil breaking through the $100-a-barrel mark.

The environmental benefits count for a lot too – especially as it emerges that the carbon footprint of merchant shipping is three times higher than previously thought. Improved research by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently indicated that the industry’s annual CO2 emissions have reached 1.12 billion tonnes – about twice that of the aviation sector – and are set to rise a further 30% by 2020.

Shipping emissions are not included in quotas set under the Kyoto Treaty. Commenting on the research findings, however, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was quick to lend support for its inclusion in post-2012 national limits. “This is a clear failure of the system. The shipping industry has so far escaped publicity.” The new estimates are also likely to increase pressure for shipping to be included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Many shipping companies, including Moller-Maersk, the largest of them all, have taken to slowing their fleet to reduce fuel use and emissions. A 10% reduction in speed can cut up to 25% of fuel use. – Jon Wallace

25 March 2008

Jon Wallace