Climate change
Concerns over climate change has received increasing attention in recent years by industry, policy makers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the public as awareness of the results and dismal future projections from climatology research have become widely reported in the media and debated at the local and the international level.
Despite remaining uncertainties and the inherent complexity of the field of climatology, a growing body of international research published in peer-review journals and periodically reviewed by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC suggests that the Earth is undergoing changes in climate at an unprecedented rate. The observed increases in global average temperatures can to a
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Given the current status of climate science, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reacted to the perceived threat of climate change by enforcing a set of mandatory technical and operational measures (EEDI/SEEMP) aimed at improving energy efficiency and significantly reducing GHG emissions from international shipping.
In order to achieve this goal, IMO has based these measures on the results of its Second GHG study published in 2009. This study demonstrated that further improvements in energy efficiency were possible and the technologies needed to realize such improvements were largely already in existence. Recent advances in more efficient engines and propulsion systems, hull design and the construction of larger ships have paved the way for the reduction of fuel consumption and subsequent emissions per unit of cargo transported.
In addition, the study authors concluded that further reductions in emissions were possible through operational measures, such as lower speeds and voyage optimization. (IMO,
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Some propulsion systems will require the application of additional correction factors and IMO intends to produce the necessary reformulations and adaptations of the EEDI to fit ship types not covered by the present formula at a later date. (IMO, 2013)
Presently, the EEDI covers the following ship types: tankers (including gas tankers), bulk carriers, container ships, refrigerated cargo ships and general cargo ships. According to the IMO (2013) these ship types account for approximately 70 per cent of emissions from new ships.
Meanwhile, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has continued its work on evaluating and further developing energy-efficiency guidelines for international shipping and it has published the meeting summary of its 68th session (held 11 to 15 May 2015) on its website which states that EEDI review work will continue. (IMO,