Page 94 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023

GREEN SHIPPING

The recently conducted MARTECMA survey reflects the shipping industry’s diverse
opinions and approaches to decarbonisation, as companies of various sizes and assets
strive to achieve the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) emission reduction
targets.

THE PATH

TO DECARBONISATION

IS UNDENIABLY

CHALLENGING

An introduction by The survey results highlight a variety erate significant emissions. Moreover,
Assoc. Prof. Dimitrios V. Lyridis of alternative fuels, including biofuels, increasing biofuel demand can exac-
and Dimitrios Polymenopoulos
Laboratory for Maritime Transport methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, nuclear erbate deforestation, land-use change,
School of Naval Architecture and Marine power, electricity (batteries) and fuel and biodiversity loss, potentially com-
Engineering cells, with no one-size-fits-all solution promising food security.
National Technical University of Athens
emerging as the clear winner. How-
ever, rather unexpectedly, hydrogen is The high cost and limited availability of
considered quite realistic. As a result, fuel cell technology may limit its adop-
shipping companies must tailor their tion, particularly for smaller compa-
decarbonisation strategies to specific nies. On the other hand, nuclear power
vessel types and operational require- is more likely to be adopted by com-
ments while considering potential risks, panies with the necessary resources
such as stranded assets, if certain fuels and expertise to manage the complex
lose favour or fail to meet long-term regulatory, safety, and public percep-
sustainability goals. tion issues surrounding it. In addition,
nuclear power may be more suitable for
Regarding fuels, according to the certain ship types, such as icebreakers
survey, biofuels are generally easier or large cargo vessels operating on
to adopt for both large and small long-haul routes. As for hydrogen and
companies due to their compatibility ammonia, their handling and storage
with existing engines and infrastruc- require specialised infrastructure and
ture. However, although using them safety measures, which may be more
may presently seem feasible, scaling challenging for smaller companies to
up these solutions may be a problem. implement. Surprisingly enough, bat-
Additionally, the limited availability teries are not considered very relevant,
and higher cost of biofuels may pose although technically, they should rep-
challenges, particularly for smaller resent a viable alternative for short-sea
companies. The overall environmen- connections.
tal performance of biofuels is subject
to debate, as they can lead to lower Regarding various ship types, accord-
greenhouse gas emissions compared to ing to the survey, decarbonising bulk
fossil fuels. Still, the production pro- carriers requires addressing their
cess can be energy-intensive and gen- energy consumption and emissions,

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