gmec’s co-chairmen on “green shipping”
Spyros Polemis and Corrado Antonini are gmec’s co-chairmen.A “green ship” is a technological evolution, not a revolution, says Antonini, honorary chairman of CESA (Community of European Shipyards Associations). This subject has moved to the centre of discussion in the maritime industry under the impact of climate change, and yesterday it brought together many leading international experts on the first day of gmec (Global Maritime Environmental Congress).
Polemis welcomed the industry’s determination and desire to continue to improve its environmental performance. He stressed that shipping had always taken account of the environment, but that now a “lively discussion has started between regulatory authorities and shipping, on sustainability and green shipping”.
The fossil fuels used by shipping are at the centre of this discussion. He sees “large forces at play” here, because emissions of sulphur dioxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter and carbon dioxide (CO2) are at the focus of the debate worldwide: “The only way to decisively deal with these problems is through the use of a different type of fuel,” he remarked. The “ultimate green ship” is yet to come, says Antonini. A great deal has already been achieved in cruise ships, e.g. in waste disposal, sanitary water cleaning, etc., but compliance with environmental standards and energy efficiency poses even greater challenges. Antonini sees other alternatives to the propulsion technologies that are usual today. There are basically three main options for future compliance: operation on low-sulphur fuel oil/marine gas oil, operation on heavy fuel oil with an exhaust gas scrubber, and operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or alternative fuels. To balance ecological needs and economic requirements, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which is applicable for all new ships started after January 1st 2013, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), which applies to all ships, have been introduced.
Antonini and Polemis see eye to eye on this. Polemis expects shipyards to pay particular attention to the EEDI – “especially when it is well understood that all new ships will have to be redesigned from scratch, i.e. new hull lines as a minimum, so that the vessel will move more efficiently through the water”. He added that different deadweight capacity requirements for specific trades would have to be taken into account, but there is certainly room for improvement. He also welcomes the introduction of the SEEMP, which is expected to make a difference across the shipping industry. “That is a good thing; it is certainly progress in that shipping companies will codify by and large already-existing practices and thereby focus on ways to improve vessels’ performance even further,” he said.
Antonini likewise expects the two instruments set up by the London-based UN agency IMO (International Maritime Organization) to have a major impact on shipbuilding and shipping. The next generation of ships needs to be of flexible design to be more energy-efficient and economical to operate. They will need better hydrodynamic design of the hull, thus requiring less propulsion power. Speed is a key issue here. If the hull is designed for the most frequent speed, that will save fuel and energy. The EEDI still has to be defined for cruise ships. “But evolution will continue,” Antonini said.
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