cargo
Newsletter
Credit: Ian Taylor/Unsplash
Shipping industry seeks sustainable fuel alternatives
The shipping sector is moving away from heavy fuel oil to greener alternatives in response to stringent global regulations.
In short:
- New regulations by the International Maritime Organization require significant emission reductions, prompting the search for sustainable fuels like methanol, hydrogen, ammonia and experimenting with electricity and nuclear power.
- Methanol shows promise due to renewable production methods, but challenges in global availability persist.
- Ammonia emerges as a strong candidate despite its toxicity, with ongoing developments to improve its combustion efficiency in maritime engines.
- However, the industry needs to look at other ways to cut down emissions, like wind-assisted technologies.
Why this matters:
Transitioning to cleaner fuels is important for the shipping industry to meet upcoming emission reduction targets, which are set to become net zero by 2050. Success in this industry could set a precedent for other sectors, pushing them towards their own environmental commitments.
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Newsletter
Credit: Borderpolar Photographer/Unsplash
Wind-powered sails modernize cargo shipping to reduce emissions
Cargo ships are increasingly adopting advanced sail technologies to decrease fuel consumption and carbon emissions, leveraging designs inspired by airplane wings and enhanced with artificial intelligence.
In short:
- Sails resembling airplane wings and equipped with AI optimize wind usage to propel ships, minimizing reliance on traditional fuels.
- Industry adoption is slow but growing, with 39 large ships already equipped and more anticipated as manufacturers ramp up production.
- These technologies not only reduce operational costs and environmental impact but also extend the lifespan of existing vessels.
Key quote:
"We’re going to see this coming very quickly to a larger number of ships."
— Matthew Collette, professor of naval architecture and marine engineering, University of Michigan.
Why this matters:
The shipping industry generates close to 3 percent of global carbon emissions. Wind-powered sails contribute to the industry's efforts to meet international environmental standards and targets, which includes halving greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.
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Whales, turtles, the alligator, flaco: Animals in the news
Wild creatures have been in the headlines lately, sometimes in disturbing ways that reflect the impact of climate change.
The battery that flies
A new aircraft being built in Vermont has no need for jet fuel. It can take off and land without a runway. Amazon and the Air Force are both betting on it. So who will be in the cockpit?
E-commerce mega-warehouses, a smog source, face new pollution rule
A plan aimed at the nation’s largest cluster of warehouses is designed to spur electrification of pollution-spewing diesel trucks and could set a template for restrictions elsewhere.
www.bloomberg.com
Russia wins in Arctic after US fails to kill giant gas project
Building the $27 billion Yamal liquefied natural gas project meant shipping more than 5 million tons of materials to construct a forest of concrete and steel 600 kilometers north of the Arctic circle, where temperatures can drop to -50 degrees celsius and the sun disappears for two months straight.
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