Joanna James
As the most cost-effective and least carbon-intensive mode of mass transport, shipping might've seemed like the best of both worlds back in the day. But, as the industry releases rising levels of emissions, and has been called on to look into more eco-friendly ways, that's not the case today.
Currently, the global shipping industry consumes a whopping 300 million tons of fuel annually, accounting for around 2-3% of total emissions released into the atmosphere. As an industry that heavily relies on such massive quantities of carbon-intensive fuel, switching to less "environmentally unfriendly" fuels seems a promising strategy, at least in the short run. A clutch of shipping companies has already explored the possibility of using biofuels and biomass-derived fuels—fuels that contain significantly lower sulphur content than diesel—and are said to have yielded encouraging results.
At a time that the global shipping industry has been called on to actively and urgently look into measures that can cut down emissions, slow steaming presents one of the simplest yet highly effective solutions. Slow steaming i.e. powering down engines significantly less than their maximum speed has been one of the most intensely discussed topics, not only because of the solution's simplicity, but also its ability to cut down emissions drastically, while saving shipping companies millions of dollars in the process in terms of fuel costs. As propitious as it sounds, reducing travel speeds would be a no-go without looser shipping schedules that allow more time for freightage.
Empty container repositioning is the process of moving/shipping empty containers from a location/port with a surplus to a location/port with a deficit of empty containers and is a key issue faced by carriers that is both financially and environmentally harmful. Implementing strategies that minimise trade imbalances and other factors that create the need for empty container repositioning would certainly help cut down unnecessary emissions and save carriers millions of dollars in fuel.
Given the weight and size limitations of lithium batteries available today, it is virtually impossible to think of electrifying shipping without a technological breakthrough. But, with electric technology replacing fossil fuels in automobiles and a multitude of other industries, there is promise in improving and utilising battery-powered solutions to minimise carbon emissions and move towards more eco-friendly mechanisms, which is why pioneers in the industry should invest in the research and development of such solutions.
Utilising renewable energy presents the most promising solution to attaining the ultimate goal of achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but certainly is something that cannot be done overnight. However, many industrial actors, including the likes of South Asia Gateway Terminals, have embraced the possibility of utilising renewable energy, which is clearly evident by the incorporation of using solar, hydro and wind power for shipping as one of the key sustainable development goals in Sri Lanka and many other countries around the world.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
