IMO 2020 & Alternative fuels: SSI shares perspectives on biofuels as one the alternative fuel options

SSI ED Andrew Stephens at IMO's Symposium as part of the day 2's session
on the role of alternative fuels in decarbonisation of the shipping industry

On 17-18 October 2019 the Symposium on IMO 2020 and Alternative Fuels was held at the International Maritime Organization in London. The 1.5 day event aimed to raise awareness and to take stock of the preparations for IMO 2020 as well as to discuss the role of alternative fuels in the decarbonisation of shipping.

SSI Executive Director Andrew Stephens spoke on day 2 which looked at the role of alternative fuels, as part of the session 'Stakeholder perspectives on alternative fuels and decarbonization of the shipping industry'. Chaired by Edmund Hughes of the IMO, SSI spoke alongside distinguished panelists representing DNV GL, the Malaysian Government and Shell.

SSI's presentation: 'Is there a role for biofuels in shipping's decarbonisation?'
Audio file for day 2 of the Symposium on the role of alternative fuels in decarbonisation of the shipping industry
Full programme and presentations at the Symposium


Climate Week NYC: What is the role of sustainable biofuels in shipping's decarbonisation?

See also: The Sustainable Shipping Initiative’s Journey to Climate Week NYC

As part of its work on decarbonisation in shipping, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) hosted a high-level event during Climate Week NYC 2019 under its Energy Transition track to explore the role of biofuels in the context of the maritime industry’s transition to zero-emission shipping.

 

What is the role of sustainable biofuels in shipping’s decarbonisation?
New York, 25 September 2019

This event was part of SSI’s stakeholder consultation process to investigate the sustainability and availability of biofuels for shipping. We recognise that a number of questions surround the current, and potential future, sustainability and availability of biofuels – and we want to build a better understanding of the issues at play before deciding whether and how to proceed.

There is an urgent need for the radical decarbonisation of shipping. 

It’s time for the maritime industry to play its part in limiting global heating to 1.5°C, by transitioning from the current reliance on fossil fuels towards zero carbon fuels by 2050. Research commissioned by the SSI in 2018 revealed that zero-emission vessels need to be entering the world’s fleet by 2030 – and that advanced biofuels represent one of the more economically feasible options for shipping in that time-frame.

 

While some may say “biofuels remain risky territory”– with significant potential for good intentions to result in perverse outcomes – our research suggests there is also potential for certain biofuels to help the shipping industry kickstart its journey towards rapid and full decarbonisation.

 

At this event we witnessed an inspiring panel of speakers moderated by Sally Uren, Chief Executive of international sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future. Our panelists were:

 

  • Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Leader of Climate & Energy Practice, WWF
  • Gerard Ostheimer, Managing Director below50, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
  • Christine Weydig, Director, Office of Environmental and Energy Programs, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
  • Adair Turner, Chair, Energy Transitions Commission
  • Kirsi Tikka, Independent Non-Executive Director
  • John Kornerup Bang, Head of Sustainability Strategy & Chief Climate Change Advisor, Maersk

Aligned with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit Energy Transition track, our event shared and anchored our learning across the maritime, sustainability and climate communities. This event represented the culmination of a series of consultations exploring the role of sustainable biofuels in the decarbonization of shipping. The insights from the consultation process and the Climate Week event will feed into a report, on the possible role (if any) of sustainable biofuels for shipping, to be launched at the International Maritime Organization in November 2019.

Climate Week NYC 2019 was a unique opportunity to galvanise stakeholders across and beyond the shipping value chain, demonstrating our commitment through a strong collective voice, concrete actions and by making a tangible contribution to sustainable shipping.

 


Seminar 2: What is the potential availability of sustainable biofuels for shipping?

SSI is holding a series of seminars and webinars to investigate the sustainability and availability of biofuels for shipping. We recognise that a number of questions surround the current, and potential future, sustainability and availability of biofuels – and we want to build a better understanding of the issues at play before deciding whether and how to proceed.

On 11 July SSI held a seminar on the availability of sustainable biofuels for shipping, hosted by Maersk at the International Maritime Organization. Facilitated by Forum for the Future, the seminar provided an opportunity for a diverse range of views to be expressed on the key questions raised, providing rich insights and debate.

This seminar aimed to provide clarity to the shipping industry as to why there is such a wide range of estimates of the future availability of sustainable biofuel and the implications of these various estimates for the decarbonisation of the shipping sector. Finally it will give stakeholders the opportunity to offer insight and discuss whether sufficient sustainable biofuel will become available to meet the needs of the shipping sector.

Among the rich insights and diverse range of views expressed on the key questions raised, the seminar raised the following points:

  • There is significant variation in projected future availability of feedstock – although there was agreement that the highest estimates (beyond 100 EJ) can largely be discounted as practically unfeasible.
  • Conversely, it was considered likely/reasonable that availability of the order of magnitude of 50EJ could become available (if there is a major societal push to make it so).  This would not just be available for shipping however – but to all potential competing industries/uses.
  • And while shipping, as a ‘hard-to-decarbonise’ sector, might make a case for preferential access – arguments can also be made that end-uses that result in this feedstock being ‘stored’ (ie, in materials) rather than combusted (as fuel) should be prioritised, on the assumption that this has a greater effect on lowering the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. 
  • If others sectors are demanding biomass at scale then shipping is unlikely to be able to meet all its future energy sources from biogenic feedstocks. Therefore, there is potentially a different approach needed in the shorter term to develop and use the surplus biomass whilst developing non-biogenic decarbonisation technologies ready to enter fleets at the right point. 
  • In terms of that timing, participants suggested that all new ships coming ‘online’ from around 2030 will have to be zero-carbon to fully decarbonise by 2050 at the latest and thus are likely to rely on new, post-biofuel technology.
  • It’s not yet clear that (cost-effective) zero-carbon propulsion technology will be available by 2030 however – and it will only become available if significant efforts are made now to ensure it (requiring everything from strong policy; advocacy in support of such policy; creating strong market signals; etc)
  • The result of this transition management approach would see new vessels be zero carbon without biofuels whilst there is an ongoing but declining role for biofuels to power the existing shipping fleet until its end-of-life.
  • Indeed, the major availability question facing shipping might be whether there will be enough to make a significant dent in shipping over the next decade, rather than whether there will be an eventual cap? (ie will there be sufficient biofuel to enable shipping to improve in the coming decade, rather than will there be too little for shipping to make a wholesale switch in the decades to come)?

Presentations delivered at the seminar

Sustainable biomass potentials and competing uses
Uwe R. Fritsche, Scientific Director, IINAS
Task 40 Deployment Lead & Task 45 Sustainability Co-Lead

Biomass in a low-carbon economy
Jenny Hill, Head of buildings, industry and bioenergy, UK Committee on Climate Change

Research Insights from DBFZ
Alexandra Pfeiffer, KatjaOehmichen, André Brosowski, Stefan Majer

Global Biomass Resource Availability & Trade Flows for Bioenergy
Dr. Andrew Welfle, University of Manchester

Alternative Fuels in Shipping
Environmental Defense Fund

IMO Photo credit: Mark Lutes, WWF


Creating a new norm for responsible ship recycling

Click here to see the original article published in Maritime Risk International.

Andrew Stephens and Nicole Rencoret, at SSI, outline the issues facing the ship recycling sector and reflect voices from the industry

In May 2018 Maritime Risk International published a story, “A call for clarity”, on the newly launched Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI). Since then, the SRTI’s online platform – shiprecyclingtransparency.org – has gone live, with 14 sustainable shipping leaders in the industry signing up to the initiative. Shipowners are now demonstrating their commitment to transparency and sharing information on their respective approaches to ship recycling. 

The social and environmental risks of recycling ships are well known across and beyond the maritime sector. Shipbreaking carries significant occupational health and safety risks, as well as community health and safety exposure, not to mention risks related to a lack of access to health care, wages, working hours, collective bargaining and freedom of association.

Little traction in global ship recycling regulation 
In the past year, little headway has been made in the way of global regulation beyond the Basel Convention, IMO guidelines for the development of the ship recycling plan and ILO guidelines on health and safety in shipbreaking. This year marks 10 years passing since the adoption of the Hong Kong Convention, yet it still is not yet in force. (The Convention was adopted on 15 May 2009, with its entry into force expected 24 months after ratification by 15 states, representing 40 per cent of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage.)

“For too long, EU vessels have been dismantled in poor environmental and social conditions. This is not acceptable any longer. The full entry into force of the EU Regulation on ship recycling is a milestone for this sector, as it provides for the first time clear and specific rules on how EU-flagged vessels should be recycled. Like other recycling activities, ship recycling can be carried out sustainably, in a way which is good for workers, the environment and the economy.”

Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

At the regional level however, we are seeing progress in the form of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation – the only legally binding and comprehensive instrument on ship recycling in force in the world today, in effect from 31 December 2018. The recycling of all large sea-going vessels sailing under an EU flag can only take place in yards included in a list of ship recycling facilities, comprising 26 yards in the EU, Turkey and the US. (The most recent list was issued on 6 December 2018. Drawn up by the European Commission in close cooperation with the EU member states, the list is regularly updated to include yards complying with strict safety and environmental standards. The Commission is currently assessing applications to join the EU list from more than 20 additional yards, located mostly in India and Turkey.)

The lack of a consistently-applied, legally binding framework means that shipowners, ship recyclers and other stakeholders in the ship recycling value chain continue using different approaches. The current industry narrative does not offer many business incentives for responsible ship recycling: good practice does not always get rewarded and bad practice can often go unchecked. The result is uneven playing field for many shipowners.

Creating fair competition through transparency
With transparency comes accountability; it is impossible to be held accountable without being transparent. We have seen how transparency has moved the goal posts and significantly accelerated progress in other industries. Demanding shipowners’ transparency as a minimum is key to demonstrate progress on how far the industry has come in ship recycling, supporting improvements in performance and increasing overall trust.

"Most ship recycling still happens under unacceptable standards. In the absence of effective regulation the market must act to raise the standards and to enable a level playing field.”

Søren Toft, Chief Operating Officer, A.P. Moeller-Maersk

Being transparent about their ship recycling policies and practices will create fair competition, raise the bar for current practice and enable the shipping industry to be held to account. If shipowners are forthcoming and disclose information on their ship recycling policies and practices, investors and lenders, cargo owners and customers are more likely to choose their services over their non-transparent peers. For many, it comes down to making strategic choices as a matter of risk management.

“The Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative empowers those who invest in or buy services from shipping companies to make informed decisions on vessel recycling. With the SRTI they can demand transparency, helping them ensure they do business with companies that recycle responsibly, rather than those which continue with practices that have horrifying human and environmental consequences. It is unthinkable that change won’t be driven with such knowledge. It also sends a clear signal to tonnage providers on the new normal.”

Craig Jasienski, President and CEO, Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Ship recycling is a complex issue and it’s easy to throw one’s hands in the air and give up. But there issomething that can be done, and the onus remains on the shipping industry to be proactive in changing the existing industry narrative. Shipowners need to take responsibility for their vessels; financial stakeholders and cargo owners need to also play their part, by demanding shipowners’ transparency and using this knowledge for their decisions on the business partners with whom they engage.

“CNCo [The China Navigation Company] believes that if more stakeholders in the shipping value chain share their practices transparently then it will be clear what best practices are possible, and at what level of commitment, and thus how standards can be raised globally for the benefit of all. This Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative does not seek to set any standards, but does provide concrete evidence of what is possible, what is practically being done, and thus allows other stakeholders to select those that are aligned with their own positions and aspirations to be responsible and sustainable.”

James Woodrow, Managing Director, The China Navigation Company 

Knowledge is power, and with knowledge comes responsibility
The SRTI is a one-stop-shop online platform to share information on ship recycling based on key disclosure criteria developed jointly by key industry stakeholders. It aims to accelerate a voluntary market driven approach to responsible ship recycling practices through transparency; and subsequently to influence and improve the decision making about ship recycling, creating an industry-wide level playing field. Shipowners voluntarily disclose their approach to ship recycling, while cargo owners and investors can access this information to better inform their decision-making.

“As a service provider for responsible investments, we see that it is important for our institutional investor clients to ensure that investee companies address both environmental and social risks in ship recycling. This platform facilitates making informed investment decision and is at the same time a good driver for companies within the ship recycling industry to improve performance and transparency, making it beneficial for all parties.”

Hanna Roberts, CEO, GES International/Sustainalytics

The SRTI is not a performance standard nor rating exercise; rather, the online platform serves as a tool that allows ship owners to voluntarily disclose their approach to ship recycling. The data shared through the online platform is allowed to tell its own story.

Cargo owners such as retailers and manufacturers, and financial stakeholders such as investors, banks and lenders can use the SRTI online platform to access this information and inform their sourcing- and investment-related decisions. They can reduce brand risk, align their investments with the views of their customers and be accountable for their supply chain. The SRTI can be built into existing supplier codes of conduct and sustainability strategies and can be used as required criteria for consideration in procurement decision-making processes.

Industry leaders join in demanding transparency across the shipping value chain
The SRTI is an independent initiative hosted by the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, reflecting a collective effort that brings together the shipping industry, investors, cargo owners and broader stakeholders in an effort to improve all aspects of ship recycling policy, practice and performance. It already has the support of a number of leaders from across the shipping value chain including A P Moeller-Maersk, The China Navigation Company, GES International, Hapag Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, NORDEN, Nykredit, Standard Chartered Bank, Stolt Tankers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

“Ship recycling is a complex issue. Lloyd’s Register has worked with a number of responsible vessel owners who want to take action and improve their own responsible recycling practices. To make this the new norm, it requires wider collaboration across the value chain.”

Nick Brown,Marine and Offshore Director, Lloyd’s Register

2019 Informa plc. This article first appeared in Maritime Risk International, February 2019, pp12-13.


Why should shipping reduce its GHG emissions?

Looking for a short & sweet – and compelling – argument for why shipping should reduce its GHG emissions? This Q&A with UNCTAD experts Hassiba Benamara and Frida Youssef makes the case for the responsibility maritime transport has to the environment.

Originally published on the UNCTAD website

Q: What is the carbon footprint of shipping?

A: In 2012, total shipping emissions were estimated at approximately 938 million tonnes of CO2. This represented 2.6% of global CO2emissions. International shipping is estimated to have emitted 796 million tonnes of CO2 which represented 2.2% of the world total (IMO Third GHG Study 2014).  To put things in perspective and for comparison, carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping are comparable to the emissions attributed to Germany (802 million tonnes in 2016), the 6th world CO2 emitter (Global Carbon Atlas, 2017).

Q: How does shipping compare to other modes of transport?

A: Maritime transport compares favourably to other modes of transport, both in terms of fuel efficiency and GHG emissions (per unit/tonne-kilometre). However, there is significant potential for an increasing carbon footprint in view of the heavy reliance of international shipping on oil for propulsion and the expected growth in world demand for shipping services driven by expanding global population and trade.

Q: How are GHG emissions from shipping expected to evolve?

A: Without mitigating actions, carbon emissions from the sector can be expected to increase and, therefore, undermine the sustainability objective. Forecast scenarios for the medium term suggest that, under a business as usual scenario, maritime carbon emissions could increase by 50–250% by 2050, depending on economic growth and global energy demand (IMO Third GHG Study 2014).

Shipping, therefore, has a crucial role in helping to achieve the internationally agreed goal in the Paris Agreement of limiting the global average temperature increase to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Q: How are the emissions from international shipping dealt with under the Kyoto Protocol?

A: Greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping – which is estimated to carry over 80% of world trade by volume and over 70% by value – are not covered under the Kyoto Protocol.

Q: Why is it difficult to regulate GHG emissions from shipping?

A: One major difficulty associated with regulating GHG emissions from international shipping relates to the inherent complexity of this sector.

GHG emissions from international shipping are mainly generated outside national boundaries and ships may be linked to different nations through registration, beneficial ownership and operation. The calculation of emissions and their attribution to countries is therefore complex.

Q: What is the international community doing to address the problem?

A: The Kyoto Protocol delegated work on limiting or reducing GHG emissions from marine bunker fuels to the IMO. In 2016, the IMO adopted a mandatory data collection system for fuel consumption by ships and a roadmap for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships.

In April 2018, the IMO adopted an initial strategy on this matter, which aims at the reduction of total annual GHG emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050, compared with 2008, and includes quantitative reduction targets through 2050, with short-term, midterm and long-term policy measures to help achieve the targets.

Under the initial strategy, market-based measures may be potential midterm measures, to be agreed upon in 2023–2030. Various considerations need to be addressed, including the potential implications of market-based measures for transport costs and trade competitiveness, in particular in developing countries, including small island developing States and landlocked developing countries.

Photo: UNCTAD


United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce Buckingham Palace Declaration

United for Wildlife is a collaborative effort by seven international conservation organisations to tackle illegal wildlife trade. The organisations were brought together by HRH the Duke of Cambridge through his work with the Royal Foundation.

In March 2016 the Sustainable Shipping Initiative became one of the founding signatories to the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce Buckingham Palace Declaration, which outlines the steps necessary to close shipping routes to traffickers in the illegal wildlife trade. The Declaration is an agreement that seeks to combat the IWT from within the shipping industry itself, and now has over 80 signatories.

Alastair Fischbacher, CEO of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative at the time the SSI signed the declaration, said:

“The Declaration is a welcome and necessary step in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. The SSI wholeheartedly supports its aims, and it is an example of how shipping can take ownership and responsibility for improving wider areas of sustainability, working together and helping other transportation and conservation industries, along with local communities, to make a substantial difference on important global issues, such as the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.”

Zero tolerance policy

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative will never knowingly enable or facilitate activities pertaining to the illegal wildlife trade. The SSI promote the same zero tolerance to the illegal wildlife trade amongst our membership.

For more information on the work of United for Wildlife visit  https://www.unitedforwildlife.org

To see the current signatories to the Buckingham Palace Declaration click here Declaration Signatories 


Low Carbon Shipping

Time period: 2014-2018

Members involved: AkzoNobel, Bunge, Cargill, Lloyd’s Register, IMC, Maersk, RightShip, Wärstilä, WWF

Partners: University College London (UCL), University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS)

Ocean transportation is currently the most environmentally sound mode of transportation in terms of CO2 emissions per tonne of cargo transported. Despite this, shipping is responsible for 2.6% of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which is broadly equivalent to the emissions of Germany.

The IMO’s third Greenhouse Gas (GHG) study (2012) predicted that CO2 emissions from shipping could increase by as much as 50-250% by 2050, based on a business as usual scenario. This could result in shipping emissions growing to as much as 17% of total global emissions.

If the targets set by the UNFCCC COP21 Paris Agreement are to be achieved, then shipping must reduce levels of emissions by as much as 80% below 2012 baselines. This represents a major challenge and requires a move away from fossil fuels as the primary fuel source and the widespread adoption of alternative fuels and clean technology.

Our Vision is of a shipping industry that is changing to a diverse range of energy sources, using resources more efficiently and responsibly, and dramatically reducing greenhouse gas intensity.

The shipping industry and the IMO urgently need to be proactive in creating a framework of regulation, and plan for tangible GHG reduction targets, otherwise the industry risks facing unilateral and regionalized measures, unsuitable for an international shipping industry.

The SSI has become a leading voice within the industry concerning carbon reduction, and in the run up to, and in the wake of, MEPC 69 and 70 (2016) the SSI has promoted a strong case in favour of change and action within the shipping industry.

Specifically, the SSI has been calling upon the International Maritime Organization to develop a framework that would lead to the implementation of carbon reduction targets for the shipping industry, and therefore welcomed the announcement by the IMO in October 2016 of the plan to develop an IMO roadmap for CO2 emission controls for the shipping industry.

SSI members have demonstrated to the wider industry that there are already many innovative ways to reduce CO2 emissions as well as to make financial savings. SSI members have shown leadership by sharing these practices through case studies developed by SSI in 2013 and available to download. For example, AkzoNobel’s marine coatings business, International®, which has developed the first carbon credits methodology for international shipping, recognising and financially rewarding ship-owners for investing in clean technology.

In 2015, the SSI supported its position on low carbon by commissioning academics at University College London (UCL) to conduct research examining the CO2 reductions required to limit global emissions such that global warming stays within the UNFCCC below 2 degrees target. The study demonstrated that a disconnect exists between present day stakeholder attitudes, and the challenge faced by the industry. Even in the most moderate scenario, carbon intensity reduction beyond what would be considered ‘commercially viable’ by our members was shown to be required.

In 2017, the SSI commissioned Lloyd’s Register and University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) to undertake a study examining the viability of zero emission vessels entering the trans-oceanic fleets from 2030, and the key drivers that would be required in order to achieve this outcome. The study shows that advanced biofuels may represent the most economically feasible zero-emission alternative for the shipping industry but face two key issues: sustainability and availability.

The findings of the 2018 study by Lloyd’s Register and UMAS led to the development of a decarbonisation working group with the goal of conducting further work around the sustainability and availability of biofuels.


Ship Recycling

Time period: 2014-2018

Members involved: ABS, The China Navigation Company, Lloyd’s Register, IMC, Maersk, Priya Blue, U-Ming

The recycling of decommissioned ships is an integral part of the maritime lifecycle. However, the process of ship recycling is a highly complex and contentious issue, with increasing importance being placed on improving sustainability standards within ship breaking and recycling operations.

The social and environmental risks of ship recycling are well-documented and recognised to include environmental, occupational health and safety risks, and well as community health and safety exposure.

Despite these significant risks, there are no effective global regulations in force to ensure a consistent approach to ship recycling. International conventions provide only partial coverage of material aspects associated with ship recycling.

Shipowners, ship recyclers, and other stakeholders in the ship recycling value chain have different policies and practices that often are not clearly defined. Because of this, good practice is not always rewarded, and bad practice can often go unchecked.

To create a world where ships are recycled responsibly – socially, environmentally and economically – meeting and going beyond international conventions and norms.

2015-2017: The SSI hosted three successful ship recycling roundtables, in 2015, 2016 and 2017 which coincided with the TradeWinds Ship Recycling Forum. These events brought together key stakeholders from across the industry: shipowners, recycling yards, NGOs and financial institutions.

They provided a platform to discuss the key issues, successes and future aspirations of the sector, and were a forum for companies to have constructive conversations on a difficult topic.

As well as the roundtables, the SSI worked on the development of a baseline minimum standard for responsible ship recycling. Our members are on the ground driving improvements at selected yards and are bringing about significant and tangible improvements in recycling practices that not only comply with, but exceed, those laid down in the Hong Kong Convention.

2018: This working group on Sustainable Ship Recycling has been transformed into an independent platform hosted by the SSI: The Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI).

The SRTI is an open initiative with a mission to accelerate a voluntary market-driven approach to responsible ship recycling practices through transparency; and subsequently to inform decision-making and create fair competition across the shipping industry.


Oldendorff Joins the Sustainable Shipping Initiative

Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG Joins Sustainable Shipping Initiative

 

Oldendorff joins high profile leadership group working to create a more sustainable maritime industry

 

LONDON – 30 May 2018 - The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (“SSI”), a pioneering coalition of companies from across the global shipping industry, today announced that the dry bulk shipowner and operator Oldendorff Carriers has become a member.

Oldendorff joins other SSI members, including ABN-Amro, AkzoNobel, Bunge, China Navigation, IMC Shipping, Lloyd’s Register, Louis Dreyfus, Maersk, Priya Blue, Rightship and Wartsila, who are working together with NGOs Forum for the Future and WWF to help create a more environmentally sustainable maritime industry by 2040.

Oldendorff Carriers usually has around 700 bulk carriers under operation at any one time. Since 2014, they have invested in around 60 ‘eco’ newbuildings, which have been delivered from China, Korea and Japan. They feature low fuel consumption and significantly reduced emissions compared with older ships. Most long-term time chartered ships are also ‘eco’ type ships.

Scott Jones, Director of Communications at Oldendorff, said:  “Oldendorff Carriers is pleased to join the distinguished members of the SSI to share ideas and find a profitable and practical way forward on sustainability in the shipping industry. We found the SSI an excellent forum to address shipping specific sustainability issues, with like-minded companies.”

Tom Holmer, General Manager of SSI, said: “Oldendorff are a great addition to the SSI, providing the perspective of a large bulk operator into the deliberations about sustainability and long-term thinking on the maritime industry. The sharing of ideas and best practice across different organisations is a critical part of our journey towards reducing greenhouse gases, developing new technology and becoming more transparent and accountable. Oldendorff’s input into these issues makes them a very welcome addition to our membership.”

ENDS

 

About the Sustainable Shipping Initiative

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) is an independent charity, comprised of ambitious leaders spanning the whole shipping value chain from charterers and ship owners, to ship yards, class societies and technology companies.

The SSI’s objective is to make sustainability mainstream; working with its members and other shipping stakeholders to create a more environmentally responsible, socially conscious, safer, accountable, and more economically profitable industry.  One that is truly sustainable by 2040, as outlined in its Vision.

The SSI was founded by global sustainability non-profit organisation Forum for the Future in conjunction with WWF, the global conservation NGO and a number of leading shipping industry companies. Forum for the Future and WWF remain as SSI NGO members.

www.sustainableshipping.org

 

About Oldendorff Carriers:

Oldendorff Carriers is a privately owned dry bulk shipowner and operator, headquartered in Germany. The company operates a modern fleet of about 700 bulk carriers ranging from Handysize (35,000 tdw) to Newcastlemax (210,000 tdw). Each year, Oldendorff carries about 320 million tons of bulk and unitised cargo around the world and performs about 14,000 port calls in 125 countries.

Oldendorff Carriers has eight transhipment operations around the world, which allow its clients to use bigger ships on long haul routes, resulting in reduced emissions and freight savings.

www.oldendorff.com

 

For more details please contact:
SSI
Tom Holmer
E: tom.holmer@ssi2040.org
T: +44 207 324 3626  M: +44 7807 311852

Oldendorff Carriers Gmbh
Scott Jones
E: Scott.Jones@oldendorff.com
T: +49 451 1500 512
M:
+49 173 241 56 56


Zero Emissions Vessels Report

In 2017, the SSI commissioned Lloyd’s Register and University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) to undertake a study examining the viability of zero emission vessels entering the trans-oceanic fleets from 2030, and the key drivers that would be required in order to achieve this outcome. The study shows that advanced biofuels may represent the most economically feasible zero-emission alternative for the shipping industry but face two key issues: sustainability and availability.

The findings of the 2018 study by Lloyd’s Register and UMAS led to the development of a decarbonisation working group with the goal of conducting further work around the sustainability and availability of biofuels.

Click here to download