A Look at Eco-Friendly Cargo Vessels

One of the newest developments in the international shipping community is a focus on making the practice more ecologically sound. Interest in eco-friendly cargo ships has driven innovation in the design and manufacture of new vessels. It also has impacted the way some shipping companies conduct business.

Why the move for cargo vessels to “go green”?

Cargo and container vessels are crucial to maintaining an efficient global trade economy. Without maritime shipping, the international community would not have an affordable and feasible option for transporting materials and manufactured goods from one location to another.

Unfortunately, the cargo/container ship industry has a considerable negative impact on the global environment. Data from the International Maritime Organization shows that ocean shipping accounts for about 3 percent of the planet’s carbon dioxide emissions. According to a story from Time, studies in 2009 showed that the world’s largest 15 vessels accounted for the same output of greenhouse gases as 760 million automobiles.

As the sea shipping industry grows, carbon emissions are expected to climb. This will remain the case unless the industry takes steps to develop eco-friendly alternatives to traditional technologies and methods. In promising news, leaders and innovators in global shipping have shown considerable interest in developing a more sustainable approach to how they operate.

Examples of Eco-Friendly Innovations in Cargo Shipping

Danish shipping company Maersk in 2013 launched the first of its Triple-E container ships, capable of holding up to 18,000 20-foot containers. The use of such large, technologically advanced ships is said to improve the company’s carbon footprint.

Reported benefits include:

• large carrying capacity means fewer trips are required;
• efficient engines reduce fuel consumption; and
• improved system for waste heat recovery.

Another benefit to the company is the potential cost savings involved in operating a more sustainable fleet of ships.

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels for Cargo Ships

Other manufacturers are working to develop large cargo vessels that will not depend on fossil fuels as an energy source. Holland-based Dykstra, for example, is developing a sail-powered vessel. The company has dubbed the project the “Ecoliner Fair Winds.”

The ship will be constructed with sails that are controlled using data about wind speed and direction, as well as up-to-date weather data. This information is used to chart the most effective shipping course. Such ships will be capable of carrying dozens of full-sized shipping containers.

Also in the development stages is a wind-efficient cargo ship, as conceptualized by Norwegian sailor Terje Lade. The ship’s hull is designed to reduce drag and subsequent fuel use. Meanwhile, ships like the M/V Auriga Leader already make use of solar energy to power the ship’s electric grid.

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