Tag: decarbonization

Following the IPCC's report presenting some gloomy predictions for the future of energy transition, Simon Flowers, Chairman and Chief Analyst at Wood Mackenzie consultancy, noted that there are three encouraging signs that society sees the need to deal with a deteriorating environment.

During its latest Annual Summit in Hong Kong on 3-4 October 2018, the Global Maritime Forum presented its Global Maritime Issues Monitor 2018 report, in which maritime leaders ranked ‘energy efficiency’ and ‘choice of emissions reduction strategies’ as most likely to influence the sector in the next 10 years.

The Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit took place in Hong Kong on 3-4 October 2018. This high-level meeting gathered maritime leaders to discuss industry-wide, long-term challenges and opportunities. Under the theme 'Breaking New Ground, Digitalisation',  the forum discussed about decarbonisation, gender cap and the future of the industry in an environment characterized by fast-paced changes.

On the occasion of the Global Maritime Forum, a group of 34 CEOs and industry leaders from across the maritime value chain worldwide gathered to sign a call for action in a bid to lead the maritime industry in a transition towards a new decarbonized future.

After speculations that China could ban the use of open loop scrubbers as a compliance measure in its ECAs and coastal waters, China officials have come to confirm that the country does not plan such a ban. They explained that as long as the scrubbers comply with prevailing regulation, such a ban will not happen.

ExxonMobil informed that a new unit opened in Texas to increase production of ultra-low sulphur fuels by about 45,000 barrels per day. The new unit relies on a proprietary catalyst system to remove sulphur and meet US Environmental Protection Agency specifications.

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA during Gastech 2018, Mr. Alexander Prokopakis, CEO at probunkers, highlighted that ‘LNG is the future’ and revealed their ambitious action plan with the aim to become a ‘premium provider’ of LNG. Probunkers is a new LNG bunkering project which made its debut at Posidonia.

Speaking during a lunch that the Hong Kong Shipowners Association organised, Dr. Xie Xie, director of the  Waterborne Transportation Research Institute at the Chinese Ministry of Transport, said that he is not sure if China will allow open-loop scrubbers as a compliance measure in its ECAs and coastal waters.

In its report for 2018, K Line describes its plan to comply with the 2020 sulphur cap regulation. The company said that it will proceed by a ship-by-ship basis, as it plans to use a range of compliance methods, including the use of low-sulfur fuel oil, installation of scrubbers and conversion to LNG and other alternative fuels.

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA during SMM 2018, Mr. Eirik Nyhus, Director, Environment, International Regulatory Affairs, DNV GL notes that electrification is going to be a key element to move forward the sustainability space. Definitely decarbonization is the number one challenge for the industry, Mr. Nyhus comments, citing three key elements to accelerate pace. He concludes that climate change is the key driver for more action, meaning that policy makers ‘have to actually start today’ and not wait till 2023!