Page 28 - 2021 - Q3 - Minerva in Focus

GHG EMISSIONS: NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPPING

How can shipping

achieve decarbonisation?

There is an immediate need for the Wärtsilä’s latest Dual Fuel engine plat- ways to achieve this. Here again, expert
maritime industry to address the de- forms offer outstanding fuel efficiency advice can help the owner/operator to find
carbonisation of its operations. This and average conversion costs of adapting the optimal solution. It can be assumed
has both technological and financial to future fuels (NH3, H2, etc.), providing that there will be a race towards higher and
implications; therefore, it is crucial that enormous flexibility to owners and op- higher efficiency within the coming five to
fleet owners, operators, and technolo- erators to overcome the NB challenges ten years, both at the vessel and system
gy providers collaborate to identify the regarding evolving decarbonisation levels – and these are areas where Wärtsilä
right strategies going forward. Wärtsilä requirements. can provide hugely valuable expertise.
is particularly well positioned to play a Outcome-based business will have a
major role in assisting its customers in The technology drivers major impact on this. The technological
meeting this challenge. Design-based requirements are currently disruption and disturbance of the existing
the main technology driver for achieving business model will be balanced by Wart-
In evaluating how to retrofit existing decarbonisation. The most recent exam- sila’s position as a technology provider
vessels with effective solutions to reduce ple of this is the Energy Efficiency Exist- with the competencies to manage these
carbon emissions and future-proof de- ing Ship Index (EEXI), which means that risks, provide customer savings, and be
sign newbuilds, extensive experience and the vessel must be below the required compensated with a proportion of the
broad know-how are essential require- threshold in terms of this index. Time is resulting revenues.
ments. Wärtsilä with over a hundred years short since evaluating and deciding on the Fuel efficiency will remain relevant, even
of maritime experience and an unmatched options must be finalised by 2023. when alternative ‘green’ fuels have been
track record in developing and introducing Engine power limitation is a much-dis- widely introduced and carbon issues have
innovative solutions that reduce shipping’s cussed option. Vessel speeds today are been resolved. Fuel costs will continue to
carbon footprint, is uniquely placed to pro- typically lower than before; therefore, the represent a considerable share of operat-
vide the necessary advice. existing design speed can be lowered to a ing expenses, and limiting fuel consump-
In order to minimise the cost and impact new design point, improving the EEXI. How- tion makes economic sense.
of decarbonisation when building a vessel ever, because this index is focused on de-
today, it is necessary to have a sound un- sign, the measures taken may improve the A fleet-wide focus
derstanding of the changes that will have vessel’s index rating while not necessarily The owners who will be successful are
to be made in the future. For example, improving its operational carbon intensity. those who focus on the entire fleet rather
the design should be ready to accommo- The index is calculated in terms of a specif- than merely looking at newbuild projects.
date new technologies when alternative ic speed at a specific power output. Thus, By developing a holistic decarbonisation
carbon-free fuels become viable and either speed is lowered because the power strategy for the entire fleet and selecting the
available, as they surely will in the not- is reduced, or speed is maintained with less right technology for all vessels based on this
too-distant future. power through improving the ship’s hydro- strategy, the operational decarbonisation
dynamics. Wind-assist and shaft generator targets can be met. Without this fleet-wide
retrofits are other options being evaluated. approach, the process will be too slow. After
Another driver is the operational carbon all, it can be assumed that those owners
intensity quantified by the Carbon Inten- emerging from this journey with greener
sity Index (CII). This rating will be defined fleets will be stronger and more competitive
against limits that are becoming more and have a bigger share of the market.
stringent each year. The merit of CII is that
it pushes the industry to view decarboni-
sation with long-term plans.
Many options are available, including
hybridisation and solar, to name just two.
Fuel conversions, of course, will play a
significant role and become increasingly
common when alternative fuels are avail-
able on the market.

by Yiannis Christopoulos Reducing fuel consumption
GM Sales Greece & Cyprus, Lowering fuel consumption is directly linked
Managing Director, Wärtsilä Greece to decarbonisation, and there are various

26 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 17 / Q3 2021