Energy Efficiency News

When arriving at a destination port, ships can remain anchored for many hours or days until getting a berth. During this time, fuel is still being used – which can have a significant impact on port air quality. Could Just-In-Time (JIT) ship operation be part of the solution to reducing ship emissions? This is the question being discussed at an International Maritime Organization (IMO)-led roundtable meeting of the Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (GIA) and relevant industry stakeholders, at IMO Headquarters, London (29 June).

Virgin Voyages has reportedly selected ABB Azipods to drive a trio of cruise ship newbuilds currently being built in Italy at Fincantieri's shipyard in Genoa. The 110,000 gt vessels, each measure 278 x 38 m and accomodating 2700 passengers and 1,150 crew, with the first due for delivery in 2020, the last in 2021. ABB is tasked to supply the complete electric power and propulsion package for the Virgin Voyages’ new fleet. Each oship will feature ABB’s Azipod propulsion, a gearless steerable propulsion system where the electric drive motor is in a submerged pod outside the ship hull.

XL Lifts, specializing in zero and low emissions forklifts and a Wiggins Lift dealer, announced it is working with SSA Marine to launch a 36,000 lb. capacity zero-emissions electric forklift suitable for marine terminal and rail yard operations.SSA Pacific, a subsidiary of SSA Marine, has committed to deploying the newly announced Wiggins Yard eBull for its operations at The Port of Stockton facility.Featuring a quick charge lithium battery, the innovative Wiggins Yard eBull offers high-performance and energy efficiency, features never possible in a large capacity forklift.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) based in Yokohama, held a christening and launch ceremony yesterday for Taiheiyo Ferry Co., Ltd's "Kitakami". The vessel will replace the old Kitakami, one of three large ferries providing regular service between the ports of Nagoya, Sendai, and Tomakomai (Hokkaido). By eliminating the large shared cabin, the new ship-carrying on the Kitakami name-will ensure passenger privacy and offer enhanced comfort features.

Malaysian maritime officials are touring the Port of Bintulu on Borneo island as part of an International Maritime Organization (IMO)  training package helping countries to reduce emissions in ports.Thirty participants from authorities and ports across Malaysia are taking part in the event (24-26 July), with the aim of gaining improved expertise on assessing emissions in ports and devising strategies to address those emissions.The result – better air quality for local populations…

First stop: the Dalian Maritime University. International Maritime Organization (IMO)  Secretary-General Kitack Lim marked the start of the Master's degree programme on Maritime Safety and Environmental Management – a joint programme with the World Maritime University (WMU) during a busy visit to China (10-11 July). Lim told students the course will help to equip them to make their own contribution towards achieving key IMO objectives: helping ensure shipping can continue to serve the global population in a safe and sustainable manner.

The build-up of aquatic organisms on a ship’s underwater hull and structures is known as biofouling. This can introduce potentially invasive non-native aquatic species to a new area. Fouling can also slow down a ship and impact on its energy efficiency. An International Maritime Organization (IMO) regional workshop in  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (20-22 June) aims to provide participants with a greater understanding of the requirements and implications of ratifying, implementing and enforcing the anti-fouling systems (AFS) convention and implementing biofouling guidelines.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s work to promote better understanding of - and steps to reduce - emissions in ports has reached Georgia, at a workshop for regional participants from Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey.The event, in Batumi (10-12 September) focused on how to undertake emissions inventories and calculate emissions, including  GHGs and air pollutants. Participants were also introduced to strategies to address emissions from different sources – such as from seagoing vessels…

A new 80-meter superyacht, built at the Nobiskrug shipyard in Germany, will feature a wide scope of ABB’s technologies that will enhance its environmental performance and help the vessel comply with the International Maritime Organization’s new Tier III regulations. The new regulation comes into force for all superyachts from 2021 onwards and requires nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to be 70 percent lower than those permitted under current limits.Due delivery in 2019, the superyacht…

DNV GL - Maritime has released its second Maritime Forecast to 2050, part of a suite of Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) reports launched today in London. The Forecast provides an independent forecast of the maritime energy future and examines how the energy transition will affect the shipping industry.“The energy transition is undeniable,” says Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO of DNV GL. “Last year, more gigawatts of renewable energy were added than those from fossil fuels and this is reflected in where lenders are putting their money.”Following on from the 2017 report…

The Austrian petrochemical company Borealis has announced that it is to build a new production plant on its existing site in Kallo, in the Antwerp port area.According to a press release, the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant will use the very latest technology in terms of sustainable production and energy efficiency. With this initiative the port of Antwerp confirms and reinforces its role as the largest chemical cluster in Europe.The intention to build a new PDH plant to convert propane into propylene has been known for some time.

Ship owner Stena said it has decided to exercise its option to order its seventh and eighth E-Flexer vessels from Avic Weihai Shipyard. The two new vessels will be deployed within Stena Line’s route network with a planned delivery in 2022.Additionally, Stena RoRo has taken an option on the construction of a further four E-Flexer vessels that would also be built at the same Chinese shipyard.Niclas Mårtensson, CEO Stena Line, said, “We foresee increasing demand for freight capacity…

Oil and gas will be crucial components of the world’s energy future, according to DNV GL’s forecast of the energy transition. While renewable energy will grow its share of the energy mix, oil and gas will account for 44% of world energy supply in 2050, compared to 53% today.Gas will become the largest single source of energy from 2034.DNV GL’s Energy Transition Outlook (ETO), a forecast that spans the global energy mix to 2050, predicts that global demand for energy will flatten in 2030, then steadily decline over the next two decades, thanks to step-changes in energy efficiency.

Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine said it has received an order to deliver a battery-powered energy system for two offshore vessels (PSVs) operated by Norway-based Golden Energy Offshore.The delivery includes the SAVe Energy system, which was launched by Rolls-Royce earlier this month. In addition, the two vessels will receive an upgrade of the existing Rolls-Royce ship design engineering package to match the new features. This includes an upgrade of the Dynamic Positioning (DP) system…

Carnival Corporation, the world's largest leisure travel company, released its eighth annual sustainability report, announcing that in 2017 the company achieved its 25 percent carbon reduction goal three years ahead of schedule and is on track with its nine other 2020 sustainability goals.Looking to the future, the company continues to chart its sustainability journey, using the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to identify new environmental management…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will not delay implementing a reduction in the amount of sulphur in marine fuel in 2020, an IMO official said on Tuesday."I can categorically say there will not be a delay," said Edmund Hughes, the head of air pollution and energy efficiency at the IMO, during the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) in Singapore.IMO, the United Nations' shipping agency, will require that vessels start in 2020 using fuel oil with 0.5 percent sulphur…

Improving the environmental performance of the container shipping supply chain is a common goal shared by shipping lines, shippers, freight forwarders and non-vessel operating common carriers, as well as governments, regulators, and the public around the world.The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires that from 1 January 2020, Sulphur content in the fuel used for international shipping must be limited globally to 0.5%, compared with the current standard of 3.5%…

SEA\LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, announced that it has welcomed Mexico-based LNG company Enestas to its membership coalition.With the addition of Enestas, the SEA\LNG coalition bolsters its efforts to drive forward LNG as a marine fuel, and to progress its vital role as a viable solution in the energy transition within shipping.As the largest private LNG company in Mexico and with the largest LNG distribution network…

Solid-State Welding Processes Being Developed for NASA Manufacturing Programs Could Significantly Reduce Workboat Fabrication CostsWhether it is for a tug boat, cargo vessel, or an offshore supply ship, much of the workboat fabrication industry is located along the Southern Coast of the U.S. But a visit to any one of the workboat facilities in that area (or any other in the country) would reveal antiquated and archaic fabrication processes used seventy years ago. The workboat manufacturing process is very expensive, labor intensive, and has not really changed since World War II.

The production of Viking Line’s new passenger cruise ship started at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry (XSI) shipyard in China.The first steel plates are being cut in the traditional Steel Cutting ceremony. The new vessel will be one of the most climate-smart ships in the world. The project has involved extensive engineering and development work with the intention to create a unique new-generation passenger ship.The collaborative project has engaged several suppliers in Finland and Europe.

Wärtsilä will provide an integrated cargo handling and fuel gas system for two new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers for Belgium-based owner Exmar. The 80,000m³ very large gas carriers are being built at HHIC-Philippines (Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Philippines) in Subic Bay, and will be the first vessels capable of running on LPG, according to Wärtsilä, who secured the order in July 2018.Wärtsilä, which offers ‘LPG as fuel’ as a fully integrated part of the cargo handling system…

A who’s who list of maritime industry executives have signed on to voice their support for a zero-carbon future in shipping.The not-for-profit foundation the Global Maritime Forum brought together a group of 34 CEOs and industry leaders from across the global maritime sector to sign a call for action and lead the industry in a transition toward decarbonization.To achieve this, these leaders believe the maritime industry needs to accelerate both technological and business model innovation…

The world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fueled handysize bulk carrier, M/V Haaga, was delivered from Chinese shipbuilder from Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing to Finnish shipowner ESL Shipping, in August.The first-of-its-kind vessel features innovative solutions from Finnish hybrid solutions company WE Tech, including Economical Operations and Boost Mode with the direct drive permanent magnet shaft generator, that help minimize energy consumption and emissions to reduce the ship's environmental footprint.The Economical Operations…