As well as design efficiency improvements of new ships, shipowners and operators have also been working hard to improve the operational efficiency of all ships, by optimising speed, increasing digitisation of the industry and just-in-time arrival planning. With respect to ship operators, charterers and ports working together to address GHG emissions, just-in-time arrival is particularly pertinent. However, ship voyage speed optimisation, reducing CO2 emissions, can only work effectively if port arrival and berthing times are justified and reliable, so as to avoid unnecessarily high steaming rates simply to drop anchor on arrival, or bursts of high speed in response to a changed berthing slot. There is, therefore, a clear synergy between optimising the efficiency of ships and optimising the operation of ports. Ships, charterers and ports could significantly reduce emissions and delays, with consequential benefits for the environment and commercial performance, by collaborating even more closely to ensure successful just-in-time arrival and right-on- time departure of ships.
While short-term measures are important, ICS continues to assert that the IMO needs to move quickly onto considering the critical long-term measures that will help the industry to deliver the very ambitious target of a 50% total cut of GHG emissions by 2050, regardless of trade growth. This can only realistically be achieved with the introduction of commercially viable zero or near-zero CO2 emitting propulsion systems. The transition to zero CO2 emitting fuels – which ICS has dubbed the “Fourth Propulsion Revolution” – is the challenge of our age, and one that I know the shipping industry embraces. However, this is not something that shipowners can do alone. This will require a coalition of actors to enable an equitable transformation for the entire value chain.
Ports will play a pivotal role in this Fourth Propulsion Revolution, as it will be necessary to develop a new fuel supply infrastructure, including large-scale fuel storage and bunkering facilities. In the case of increasing electrification of ships, new shore power supply facilities will also be required to power the fleet. This may require new terminals for the import and export of zero carbon fuels as the global economy moves away from its reliance on fossil fuels. Indeed, some ports may be ideally positioned to benefit from the availability of plentiful renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind, to develop integrated clean fuel production and distribution capabilities and to benefit from new trade patterns caused by the transition to clean energy. Therefore we will need policymakers to provide leadership and support to enable an equitable and efficient transition to a zero CO2 emitting future.
According to climate science, the Fourth Propulsion Revolution will take place in the context of increased impacts of sea level rise and extreme weather events that will affect ship operations, which in turn will affect trade and balance sheets. We have a monumental challenge ahead of us, as both the Fourth Industrial and Fourth Propulsion Revolutions will impact the business models of all of us. But we also have a great opportunity. Too often change is cast in a negative light, but as we have seen from our history, previous propulsion revolutions have enabled the maritime sector to grow and positively enhance global trade.
