Decarbonization of shipping

Decarbonization of shipping is reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping to net-zero by or around 2050. There is an Initial IMO Strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships.

This includes the practice of lowering or limiting the combustion of fossil fuels for power and propulsion to limit emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). International trade of goods is primarily sea-based, followed by pipeline, air, and then rail/truck. Most sea vessels that transport goods use diesel or fuel oil, generating carbon dioxide. The maritime shipping industry transported almost 11 billion metric tonnes of cargo in 2022, which accounts for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions and potential oil spills can pose chronic risks to coastal regions, marine life, and ultimately ocean health in terms of pH and ecological diversity. A decrease in pH could make the oceans more acidic, lower free carbonates (which are a component of shellfish and corals exoskeletons/scaffolds), and decrease CO2 conversion to carbonates.

Since marine shipping moves nearly 80% of goods by tonnage and the trend of shipping is expected to double and may triple by 2050, decarbonization strategies are critical in tackling global warming and marine health. Many major shipping entities have pledged to cut carbon emissions with the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. An industry forum called the "Getting to Zero Coalition" has set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, which cannot be met by a single approach. Various approaches have been proposed or implemented, such as the use of low carbon feedstocks (methanol, ammonia) or hydrogen and electrification with energy storage, construction of ships with lighter materials with high tensile strength, and digital operations for enhanced transport efficiency and container ship packing. Some ships are partially automated with a skeleton crew to reduce the potential for human error, using telemetry based on ship onboard sensors, cloud computing, and machine learning or neural network-based decision-making. The ship trajectory, local climate, ship manifest, and operations are analyzed by the article neural network to optimize ship design and operations and predict future logistical geospatial and temporal issues that may arise.

In larger shipping operations, a digital twin is created to simulate the trajectory based on real data from the actual ship, allowing operational managers to predict future scenarios and make impactful decisions. These tools must be transparent yet safe to avoid hijacking and interference with other ships or transport, while also being low-cost for most operators to deploy and maintain. By emphasizing decarbonization, through electrification, alternate ship design, or the use of fuels, the carbon footprint and accidental spills can be minimized while enabling shipping operators to maintain a competitive edge, improve their market share, and profitability without compromising their business model.

References

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