Happy Thursday! We hope everyone is keeping dry on this rainy day!
Did anyone see The Houston
Chronicle’s Business Section on Monday, July 4, 2023, reprint
of the article from The Washington Post titled, “Group’s decision on
ships will be key on limiting warming”?
In the article, it speaks about how on Monday, July 3rd,
2023, the U.N. International Maritime Organization (IMO) is meeting for a week-long discussion
on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a possible carbon levy in the
shipping industry which is responsible for three percent of the world’s greenhouse
gases and about 90% of the goods and essentials we use in modern society are brought
to our shores by shipping vessels. The
IMO has delegates from 175 countries which the United States is one of them,
and they are known to be a conservative and slow-moving group. The shipping industry uses heavy fuel oils
like diesel to keep the vessels moving, but this is changing with next
technology. One of the new proposed ways
to cut fuel use is by using a type of sail, but not the kind of sail from a
sailboat, but more like huge kites, spinning rotors, or a hard-sail-based wind
propulsion system which are now in sea trials.
One such wind assist is MOL’s Shofu Maru bulk carrier which
is testing a rigid sail which reduce emissions only minimally. Another
wind assist is a French company called Airseas, which uses a huge kite
called Seawing to haul cargo ships to U.S. from France and it supposedly
reduces emissions in a more impactful amount.
The IMO could reduce the speeds of vessels as a way to reduce emissions. Existing technology like artificial intelligence
(AI) could also be used to make more efficient routes. Improvements in vessel designs could help reduce
drag, and/or changing the engines to use fuels like hydrogen and ammonia. We will have to invest in our ports and
terminals to embrace the use of these fuels to reach our goals. We wish the IMO the best of luck in
helping reduce emissions, so we will reach our climate goals! If you would like to read more of the
reprinted article from The Washington Post, please click the
link: International Maritime Organization meets to discuss shipping emission curbs - The Washington Post.
Check out our Blog on March 20,
2023, we speak about a ABS Class research vessel which is fueled by hydrogen
fuel cells and diesel-electric power plant, please click the link: Energy
Specialists Consulting News & Info: ABS Class research vessel to be fueled
by hydrogen fuel cells and diesel-electric power plant.
(nrgspecialistsnews.blogspot.com).
Check out this article about Airseas
Seawing, please click the link: Giantkites could pull ships across the ocean – and slash their carbon emissions |CNN.
Check out this article about MOL’s
Shofu Maru and its maiden voyage, please click the link: Wind Challenger: World’s first partially wind-powered bulk carrier ship(interestingengineering.com).
Engineers come up with interesting
and revolutionizing ideas. Let us help
you look into how to update your facility or terminal to keep up with the
low-carbon world, contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC's website!
We hope you have a great and
productive rest week!
**Disclaimer – The Washinton
Post and Interesting Engineering may charge a fee to read their
articles. **