Page 46 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2022

SHIPPING & CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon capture is an alternative technology that eliminates to dump Calcium Carbonates (CaCO ) straight into the sea.
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the need for alternative fuels, allowing the use of traditional New ship designs have greatly improved with the introduc-
carbon-based fuels. The challenge of carbon capture in the tion of the Energy Efficient Design Index, which has been
marine environment is handling and storing captured CO , implemented since 2016. The minimum improvement for EEDI
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which would require significant space, power, and specialised Phase III is 30%, but this may not be enough to meet the
equipment. Some Carbon Capture solutions for ships are CO 2030 targets.
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absorption using ammonium hydroxide, CO absorption by liq- Existing ships will have to reduce their propulsion power in
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uid amines, and CO capture using cryogenic technology. The one go by 1 January 2023 by implementing EEXI requirements.
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storing and disposing of liquid CO will be a challenge. There They are also required to continuously improve their CII rat-
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is an ongoing debate about whether ships should be allowed ings up to 2026, when the new CII is introduced.

CCS using NH4OH CCS using cryogenic technology

The table below shows the commercial fleet’s compliance statistics
with EEXI/CII requirements as compiled by ABS.

Technology will
change but we will
still need ships
with enhanced
reliability and
maintainability.
These are the
ships that we will
need to build in
the next decades

Undoubtedly, a lot of work needs to be done to ensure the other hand, ship-management companies should modernise their
environmental sustainability of the shipping industry. operational practices by adopting a “big-data” digitalisation
In conclusion, new fuels and technologies will have to be ade- approach in decision-making.
quately studied and tested before their large-scale use onboard Ship technology will constantly change, so we should focus
ships. Research and development in green technologies should on the reliable, sustainable ships we will need to build in the
be supported by green state funding. following decades. Shore-controlled or autonomous ships can
It may be time to “break the tradition” and work with govern- come later.
ments, oil majors, charterers, and shipbuilders towards a sus- Well-to-wake theories need to be discussed. We should all
tainable shipping industry. Independent shipowners will need get our house in order. At the moment, we feel that shipping is
support to keep ordering and operating their ships. On the losing this game.

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