Can Cargo Ships Go Green?

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Hey everyone,

Shipping is responsible for transporting roughly 90% of the world’s goods. However, it also accounts for approximately 3% of global CO₂ emissions.

As we push for sustainability, technologies are starting to emerge that can help steer shipping towards a greener future. Here are some of the solutions and the companies behind them.​

Wind Propulsion

Sailing is an age-old practice, but modern technology has been bringing it back to the forefront and looking at ways it can help reduce emissions.

Wallenius Marine is one of the leaders behind this push, with their “Oceanbird” concept of wind-powered cargo vessels with large, expandable sails that can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up or down to maximise wind capture. A 217-meter vessel that will have the capacity to hold 7,100 cars is set to be ready to order from next year!

Companies like Neoline and Grain de Sail are other great examples of the work being done to roll out sail-powered cargo ships over the coming years. ​

Alternative Fuels

An obvious transition that will help to decarbonise shipping is moving away from traditional fossil fuels and increasing the use of sustainable alternatives.

New York-based start-up Amogy is proving that ammonia could be the future of clean shipping. They successfully retrofitted a 70-year-old tugboat to run entirely on ammonia, eliminating its emissions and showing that even older vessels can become sustainable.

Alongside ammonia, other alternative fuels are being developed that could also have fantastic impacts on the maritime industry. Zero Emission Industries are developing hydrogen fuel cell technology and successfully launched “Sea Change”, the worlds first-ever commercial fuel-cell powered ferry. This catamaran serves as proof that hydrogen fuel cells can be used for commercial vessels, so it’s exciting to think about what this might lead to!

Improving existing ships

Beyond propulsion and fuel, new technology is helping make large ships more efficient and cutting their emissions.

Armada Technologies is leading the way in something called “air lubrication”, a system that creates a carpet of bubbles under ships, reducing the resistance of water against the ship’s hull and allowing it to move through the sea more effectively with less fuel used. It’s a similar concept to an air hockey puck being able to move so easily.

The journey towards sustainable shipping is a long one, but there is a lot of great momentum at the moment. Industry giants like Maersk have set ambitious targets to reduce their emissions and achieve net zero by 2050, but they now have a wide range of technology available to help them get there.

With these innovations gaining traction, the shipping industry is on its way to a future where goods can travel around the world with a minimal carbon footprint.

As always let me know your thoughts, catch you next week!

James

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