Emissions reduction possible for big ships
The Triple-E will be the biggest ship in the world. How can such a ship be a step in the right direction for the environment?
Big container ships may use more than 100 tonnes of fuel per day, resulting in over 300 tonnes of CO2 as well as other types of pollutants that may damage human health.
The Triple-E doesn’t look any different from other container ships. It is powered by regular shipping fuels and it has no solar panels or sails. So, it can’t possibly be good news for the environment when 20 of these giants will enter the waters, can it?
Actually, it is good news. Because the Triple-E ships will reduce the CO2 emitted from transport of goods between Asia and North Europe by 50%. This means that for each shoe, banana or flat screen TV transported by these ships, much less CO2 will be emitted to the atmosphere. In fact, transporting one tonne of goods 1 kilometre will only emit approximately 3 grams of CO2. This is not only less than any other ship, it is also far less than any other means of transporting goods – be it airplanes, trucks or trains.
How is that possible? Well, the secret is in the details. Take a look at the size. Bigger ship means ability to load more containers. And that means less CO2 per container. Now take a look at the engine. The ship is designed to sail relatively slowly and therefore it is equipped with significantly less horsepower than similar ships. And on top of that it is equipped with a so-called waste-heat recovery system, which turns the hot exhaust gas into extra energy for propulsion.
So we believe the Triple-E ships are good news for the environment. Of course they will still pollute like other ships – but they represent a big step in the right direction. And they are a good example of how significant CO2 reductions are possible when the right technologies are combined in new and innovative ways.
ByJacob A. Sterling
Source: Maersk Line
You can see the building of the Triple-E in this video.