Green ship low-carbon development trend and countermeasures

Imo's carbon reduction strategy

IMO has been committed to promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry, and has listed the reduction of carbon emissions from ships as a key management measure. In order to promote the international shipping industry to achieve emission reduction targets as soon as possible, IMO adopted the Ship Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) in 2011 as the main means to control greenhouse gas emissions from ships, with a view to regulating the process of low-carbon emissions in the shipping and shipping industry. In 2018, the Preliminary Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships was adopted, which makes overall arrangements for the actions of the shipping industry to address climate change in terms of vision objectives, emission reduction efforts, guiding principles, emission reduction measures and impacts at different stages (see Figure 1) [3,4]. This is not only the first greenhouse gas emission reduction strategy formulated by the global shipping industry in response to climate change, but also an important milestone in IMO's negotiation process of greenhouse gas emission reduction in shipping [5].

The above strategy defines the quantified targets of greenhouse gas emission reduction and the phased emission reduction measures. Average CO2 emissions per unit of transport activity from international shipping should be reduced by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008, and by 70% by 2050. (2) Reduce total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. In order to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping as soon as possible, three phases of measures have been developed: first, short-term measures (2018-2023), improve the technical and operational efficiency of new and existing ships, and initiate research and development of new technologies such as alternative fuels; Second, medium-term measures (2023-2030), including the introduction of alternative low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel implementation plans, and strengthening technical cooperation and capacity building; The third is long-term measures (beyond 2030), introducing zero-carbon fuels and encouraging the widespread adoption of possible new emission reduction mechanisms.

According to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the development of globally available and safe new Marine energy sources may face significant implementation barriers, such as the need to develop fuel life cycle GHG/carbon intensity guidelines in order to introduce alternative fuels. The IMO has developed safety standards for ships fuelled by LNG in the International Safety Code for Ships Using Gas or Other Low Flash Point Fuels, but has not yet developed safety standards for ships using hydrogen or other fuels. MEPC said it will promote public-private partnerships and information exchange by promoting information sharing, technology transfer and cooperation to help promote the development of low-carbon technologies and accelerate the transition of ships to low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels.

After the game and balance of the interests of all parties, the IMO's initial strategy on ship carbon reduction will be officially transformed into a final strategy in 2023, and changes in relevant international rules will determine the development direction of the shipping industry. This is bound to have a major impact on the formulation of energy conservation and emission reduction policies in China, and the phased goals and measures of energy conservation and emission reduction in the shipping industry also need to be adjusted accordingly. International norms and emerging technologies will become important factors affecting the future clean and low-carbon development of the shipping industry, and with the establishment of IMO's final environmental protection expected rules and standards, new opportunities for ship and shipping investment development will also follow.

Third, foreign green ship development planning and inspiration

Under the "forced" by a series of strict environmental protection conventions and standards of international organizations, Europe and Japan have formulated national green ship development plans and measures to speed up the research and promotion of new energy, new technology and new materials in the field of green ships, in order to support the domestic shipbuilding and shipping industry to meet the provisions of international environmental protection conventions as soon as possible. Win a new round of competitive advantage in the shipping and shipping market [6].

(I) Norway

As a global leader in green transformation in shipping, Norway's government aims to reduce the carbon emissions of domestic shipping and fishing vessels by 50% by 2030, and continue to promote the low-carbon emission reduction of all types of vessels through legislative planning, financial support, government-enterprise cooperation, quota system, public procurement emission reduction, registration incentive mechanism and other means. Accelerate the green development of the shipping industry [7].