The maritime industry continues to be pivotal to global trade and commerce and is a significant contributor to the UK’s economy. Despite this, it is well known for its substantial environmental footprint, with large vessels contributing heavily to greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. In order to combat this, many countries across the world, including the UK, are prioritising green shipping – a more environmentally-friendly way for ships to travel. This has led to a wide range of shipping jobs opening up that prioritise sustainability and is pushing new technologies to the forefront of the industry. In this article, we’ll be exploring what green shipping is and the efforts being implemented by the UK to reduce carbon emissions within the maritime industry.
The Importance Of Green Shipping
Green shipping refers to the different practices and technologies introduced to help reduce the environmental impact of maritime operations. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a number of very ambitious targets for the industry as a whole, including reducing carbon intensity by a whopping 40% by 2030 and halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. As a global leader in the industry, the UK is at the forefront of the efforts to meet these targets.
How These Targets Will Be Met
The UK government, as a leader in the industry, has implemented a number of new policies to help support green shipping initiatives. In 2019, the UK Clean Maritime Plan was launched, which outlines the government’s strategy for reducing emissions. This includes targets of a zero-emission shipping industry by 2050 and the introduction and uptake of more low and zero-emission technologies to help support this. Plus, the UK has signed the IMO’s International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (MARPOL), which sets a range of regulations regarding the pollution that ships introduce into the atmosphere. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory for all UK-flagged vessels.
New Technologies Leading The Way
The adoption of a wide range of environmentally friendly technologies is paramount to meeting these difficult objectives. Firstly, the biggest shift is around alternative fuels, with liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and biofuels being among the most promising alternatives to conventional marine fuels. LNG is currently the most developed and used alternative, with a range of ports, including Southampton and Liverpool, already investing in LNG bunkering facilities.
Electric and hybrid propulsion systems are also starting to gain momentum in the UK. Electric ferries already in service showcase the potential for reducing emissions on short sea routes. Hybrid systems, which combine conventional engines with electric batteries, are set to be introduced with longer journey vessels. They further improve fuel efficiencies while reducing emissions.
Smart shipping is also set to be a huge transformation for the industry, with help from advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) already being introduced to help optimise vessel operations. With improvements in route planning as a result of real-time data usage and fuel efficiencies, these technologies are already starting to reduce fuel use and emissions.
The Future Of The Industry
While progress is already being made, the high cost of developing and introducing these new technologies is certainly a limiting factor for the maritime industry. Extensive infrastructure upgrades are needed in different ports, and the UK and other countries must push forward with this. It will certainly be an uphill battle.
Despite this, the future of green shipping in the UK looks promising, with supportive government policies and investment in R&D already leading the way. With the UK proactively addressing the environmental challenges the shipping industry poses, the way is being paved for a greener, more sustainable future for the maritime sector.
