21OCT2019 - NEWS - Fuels of the future to decarbonize shipping

Ammonia and hydrogen are promising potential fuels of the future in a decarbonized shipping industry, which has to switch to alternative, zero carbon fuels in order to meet the targets set out in the initial IMO strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships, an IMO symposium on sulphur 2020 and alternative fuels heard on Friday (18 October).

Setting the scene, IMO’s Edmund Hughes said the initial GHG strategy, adopted in 2018, had sent a clear signal to the shipping sector that shipping will need to adapt. “We have to change to address global climate change,” he said. “We have to find new technologies and new fuels if we are to achieve at least 50% reduction in annual GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050.” For individual ships, the targets set mean an 85% reduction in CO2 emissions per ship. Operational and technical measures can contribute, including port time optimization and technologies which can be used on existing ships, with examples including air lubrication and wind propulsion to improve operational energy efficiency.