Page 112 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023

GREEN SHIPPING

Mr Antonis Trakakis focuses on the technological challenges faced by the shipping in-
dustry and the necessary steps to achieve the IMO targets.

SHIPPING'S LEGISLATIVE

AND COMMERCIAL GOALS

MUST LOOK IN THE SAME

DIRECTION

Although initiatives focused on developing emission reduction technolo-
gies are increasing dramatically, the survey findings indicate that indus-
try experts consider it doubtful that any such technology will be widely
adopted by 2050. What are the main challenges standing in the way of
developing such solutions, and what is a realistic timeframe for their wide-
spread adoption in shipping?
The biggest challenge seems to be that many of the solutions
under consideration, although they can all help in meeting the
targets of shipping industry, are either not particularly suitable
for shipping or are considered only by shipping.
For example, post combustion carbon capture is a technology
which is expected to have wide application ashore but cannot
perform the same way on board a ship. These systems are very
space consuming, expensive and require manning and experi-
ence which still needs to be built in the sector. It also requires
steady state conditions, unlike the constantly changing load of
a propulsion engine on board ships.
On the other hand, the use of alternative fuels is less explored
by other sectors. If for example the power sector, which emits
the biggest amount of CO₂ globally, would consider alternative
fuels, this solution would be easily applicable to shipping as
well. This results in an upscale of production and develop-
by Antonis Trakakis, ment of bunkering infrastructure that is unrealistic to expect
RINA Technical Director to happen only for shipping.
Nuclear energy may also be a solution, but it is probably to be

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