Shipping Industry Should Target Safety, Emissions, Technology to Improve Sustainability, DNV Says

Reducing ship and occupational fatalities, cutting emissions and using new technology to increase efficiency and keep freight costs low are the three most promising ways to achieve a safe and sustainable shipping industry by 2050, according to one of six sustainability reports released by DNV GL.

Ship classification society and sustainability service provider DNV GL released six themed reports in conjunction with its 150th anniversary that explore how to achieve its vision for a safe and sustainable future.

The “Managing Risk, Building Trust: an introduction to six themes for the future” report focuses on a safe and sustainable future, technology, the future of shipping, electricity, the Arctic and adaptation to climate change.

In the shipping-specific report, DNV says the shipping industry must reduce emissions by 60 percent, the same share as other industries. The report says it’s likely that stakeholders such as charterers, banks, insurance companies and investors will set stricter requirements for owners to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions.

Powering vessels with alternative fuels is one ways to reach that goal, the report says. Initially, LNG will be the go-to alternative and later other low-carbon solutions such as ship electrification, biofuels, batteries and fuel cells powered by renewable energy sources will be adopted, DNV says in the report.

More than 20 percent of shipping could adopt hybrid propulsion solutions, featuring batteries or other energy storage technologies, according to a separate position paper released by DNV in January.

Applying technology to enhance efficiency will be an important step to keep freight costs within acceptable limits, the report says. For example more powerful computers will be able to model realistic conditions a vessel might face at sea or be used to design more optimal hull and machinery systems.

The report also says advanced ship design and using future materials will help owners save energy, reduce maintenance costs and allow the construction of durable, fully recyclable vessel types.