How Green Are Our Oceans?
Novice and learner seafarers can be said to be green, while rough seas invariably make the occupants of sea going vessels go green! But how green is the marine industry in the environmental sense of the word? More specifically, how does the marine industry match up to the EU's ambitious targets to cut global carbon dioxide emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2020 and the near certainty that future energy supplies will have to shift from their almost complete dependency on fossil fuels? The current situation shows a complex and diverse situation, which although is certainly not all doom and gloom, reveals a widening gulf between the leisure industry and the commercial marine transport industry.
First, the good news.
In many ways the leisure industry, more specifically private boat and yacht usage, leads the way in terms of environmental technology and energy consumption.
Small leisure vessels these days display an assortment of alternative energy technologies.
Small wind generators, increasingly built with ever greater efficiency, vie for space with sheets of solar panels provide electricity generation and reduce the need for fossil fuel consumption.
Boat owners are short on space, so are inherently frugal.
Water usage is carefully controlled, often supplemented by small desalination systems, powered by the same alternative energy sources already described.
Private sailing vessels of course are even more environmentally friendly than their purely motor driven counterparts.
Together with bicycling, kayaking, walking and horse riding, sailing can be regarded as the most environmentally friendly way of taking a holiday.
Now,for the bad news.
The years when the wind powered the world's marine transport industry is long gone.
The marine industry is currently responsible for 90 % of world trade.
More than 50,000 ships ply the world's water ways, contributing to 5 % of global carbon dioxide emissions, with that amount expected to increase by 75% by 2027.
The marine and aviation industry have never been part of the Kyoto protocol and the marine industry in general appears to be resistant to squaring up to its global responsibilities.
A recent attempt by the EU to regulate and cut global emissions from world shipping was reported to be dead in the water, with the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) reportedly too close to vested interests to be relied upon to play any part in regulating shipping.
It is the rising price of oil which is most likely to lead to design changes, rather than a commitment to environmental safeguards.
To be fair, because of the colossal size of much of the current fleet of bulk carriers, tankers and container ships which carry the majority of the world's goods, the energy efficiency of the shipping industry appears, on paper, to be exemplary: a 8000 tonne tanker for instance uses only 1.
5% of the energy needed to shift a tonne of goods per kilometre compared to a jet airliner.
The trend for the ever increasing size in ships does bring increasing energy efficiency, together with modifications in the design of hull shapes, propellors and engines.
The shipping industry claims that its contribution to marine pollution, despite major, well publicised oil spill disasters, is now less than 10% of the total.
New innovations have from time to time brightened what has been a gloomy picture and highlight the possibilities that emerging technologies have for the future.
The German SkySails invention consists of a huge, computer controlled kite, which is designed to be flown in front and above large ships and is reputed to be able to cut emissions and fuel costs by up to 40%.
The invention, according to the engineer responsible for its development could be used on at least half of the current maritime fleet.
Another invention, which also revives the old maritime use of wind power, is to be trialled on the Norwegian flagship the "Orcelle", and utilises large, rigid, revolving metal sails, which capture and use the strongest winds and can be used as solar panels when the wind drops.
These inventions are not designed to replace the use of fossil fuels but simply to reduce its consumption and the pollution that goes with it.
First, the good news.
In many ways the leisure industry, more specifically private boat and yacht usage, leads the way in terms of environmental technology and energy consumption.
Small leisure vessels these days display an assortment of alternative energy technologies.
Small wind generators, increasingly built with ever greater efficiency, vie for space with sheets of solar panels provide electricity generation and reduce the need for fossil fuel consumption.
Boat owners are short on space, so are inherently frugal.
Water usage is carefully controlled, often supplemented by small desalination systems, powered by the same alternative energy sources already described.
Private sailing vessels of course are even more environmentally friendly than their purely motor driven counterparts.
Together with bicycling, kayaking, walking and horse riding, sailing can be regarded as the most environmentally friendly way of taking a holiday.
Now,for the bad news.
The years when the wind powered the world's marine transport industry is long gone.
The marine industry is currently responsible for 90 % of world trade.
More than 50,000 ships ply the world's water ways, contributing to 5 % of global carbon dioxide emissions, with that amount expected to increase by 75% by 2027.
The marine and aviation industry have never been part of the Kyoto protocol and the marine industry in general appears to be resistant to squaring up to its global responsibilities.
A recent attempt by the EU to regulate and cut global emissions from world shipping was reported to be dead in the water, with the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) reportedly too close to vested interests to be relied upon to play any part in regulating shipping.
It is the rising price of oil which is most likely to lead to design changes, rather than a commitment to environmental safeguards.
To be fair, because of the colossal size of much of the current fleet of bulk carriers, tankers and container ships which carry the majority of the world's goods, the energy efficiency of the shipping industry appears, on paper, to be exemplary: a 8000 tonne tanker for instance uses only 1.
5% of the energy needed to shift a tonne of goods per kilometre compared to a jet airliner.
The trend for the ever increasing size in ships does bring increasing energy efficiency, together with modifications in the design of hull shapes, propellors and engines.
The shipping industry claims that its contribution to marine pollution, despite major, well publicised oil spill disasters, is now less than 10% of the total.
New innovations have from time to time brightened what has been a gloomy picture and highlight the possibilities that emerging technologies have for the future.
The German SkySails invention consists of a huge, computer controlled kite, which is designed to be flown in front and above large ships and is reputed to be able to cut emissions and fuel costs by up to 40%.
The invention, according to the engineer responsible for its development could be used on at least half of the current maritime fleet.
Another invention, which also revives the old maritime use of wind power, is to be trialled on the Norwegian flagship the "Orcelle", and utilises large, rigid, revolving metal sails, which capture and use the strongest winds and can be used as solar panels when the wind drops.
These inventions are not designed to replace the use of fossil fuels but simply to reduce its consumption and the pollution that goes with it.
Source...