Although maritime transportation is sometimes called one of the greenest, it still leaves much to be desired regarding actual environmental impact. What can make it more sustainable?
Is maritime transportation environmentally friendly?
Sea freight is often considered more environmentally friendly than traditional truck transportation. Is it rightly so? There’s no denying that the least environmentally friendly mode of transportation is still cars, which account for 71.7% of greenhouse gases generated by transportation within the European Union, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Shipping (in general terms), however, ranks second on this list with a result of 14.1%.
So why the belief that it is environmentally friendly? If only because transporting one ton by sea consumes about ¼, and sometimes as much as ⅙, of the fuel required to transport the same cargo by road.
A single cargo ship operating under normal conditions does not emit many harmful compounds into the atmosphere. However, the problem arises in areas of heavy sea traffic, where the exhaust fumes produced are cumulative. In addition, possible malfunctions of this means of transport have a high potential to turn into an ecological disaster due to the risk of leakage of hazardous substances and poisoning of water and its life. We can always remember the noise (underwater and above water), which is not without its impact on local fauna.
Decarbonization of shipping – assumptions for the future
About shipping, the European Union has set a very ambitious goal of making shipping completely zero-carbon by 2050. While this may seem like a long time away, it is worth being aware that a large part of the solutions that could ensure the realization of this goal are still in the realm of ideas and prototypes. Turning them into commercial projects, preparing the right production processes, and creating the necessary infrastructure are extremely time-consuming activities that should begin as soon as possible if this goal is to be met on time.
In decarbonizing shipping in the future, the following solutions are of great importance.
- Wave Devouring Propulsion (WDP) – a design inspired by the movement of whale fins to efficiently use wave energy while reducing fossil fuel consumption.
- Green alternative fuels – There are currently no solutions to replace oil on a massive scale with an environmentally preferable option. However, work is underway to use alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, or even algae for this purpose.
- Smart shipping planning – and innovative technologies can bring many benefits to this branch of freight transportation. Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, or IoT solutions can improve the efficiency of fleets by better planning maritime routes to lower the carbon footprint.
- Wind propulsion – against the odds, returning to the roots of shipping can bring many benefits. Modern sails, which go by the name of WindWings, are designed to take the strain off the engine, which thus has a lower burn rate. However, this solution requires a reduction in cargo space, which can negatively affect the economy of this transportation system.
Optimizing the transportation of goods by sea
Although there are many indications that maritime transportation will be modernized and equipped with greener solutions in the coming years, many still need to be in the realm of prototypes and, therefore, far from commercial use. However, investors looking to reduce the carbon footprint generated by this aspect of their business are left with other options.
The advantage of ocean freight is its combination of long-range, low energy intensity, and high payload capacity. A way to reduce the environmental impact may be to maximize the use of available cargo space. This will make the unit more manageable, although it will consume a similar amount of fuel as it would with a smaller load. Optimization can also involve receiving goods using rail rather than road transport as long as the existing infrastructure allows it.
A professional shipping company, such as AsstrA, can help organize the process this way. In this way, the investor will achieve his transport goal and gain awareness that he is sustainably doing business.
