World Maritime News
WMNF 2021/9/16
Green shipping Groups sees methanol bet as a step in the right direction
Green Shipping advocates have praised Maersk’s decision to opt for methanol-fueled ships, saying that the fuel has significant advantages over its rivals. On the other hand, classification societies have warned it will be hard for Maersk and other methanol adopters to source enough renewable supply, which is key to making the fuel carbon-neutral.
To get enough renewable methanol to run its eight new container ships, Maersk has invested in WasteFuel, a California-based biofuel maker. This company conducts projects to turn waste into aviation fuel, green bio-methanol, and renewable natural in the Americas and Southeast Asia.
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LPG as an alternative for transition fuels
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in the form of propane and butane, can play a significant role in moving towards the 50% reduction in GHG emissions set by the International Maritime Organization for 2050.
LNG was the ‘original gas fuel’ used in ships and is more widely known and readily accepted. But it contains methane, a greenhouse gas that scientists consider more harmful than carbon dioxide, and combustion must be very efficient to minimize ‘methane slip’ into the atmosphere. In contrast, LPG has had methane removed during production, and you can handle it with more ease than LNG.
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Stakeholders’ opinions on carbon dioxide levy on ships
The Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands suggested that a $100 carbon dioxide levy on all ships could increase by 30% annually or 100% every five years.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Intercargo proposed a global carbon levy without a price. They suggested the $100 levy is too high to be used as the starting level.
Despite the agreement on the need for a carbon levy, ICS and Intercargo have a fundamentally different view of the Pacific islands on using the money. They believe the funds should be directed towards necessary decarbonization infrastructure.
BIMCO, the world’s largest shipping association, has openly advocated the imposition of market-based measures on international shipping and has partnered up with industry peers, such as ICS and Intercargo, to push for decarbonization initiatives at the IMO. However, BIMCO has not determined which market-based measure would be the most suitable for shipping.
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FMC meets with global regulators on shipping bottlenecks
The primary US regulator of the container shipping sector met its peers amid heightened scrutiny of ocean carrier business practices.
The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is sharing information with maritime regulators from the European Union and China on the logistics bottlenecks that shippers are encountering and how best to monitor the business practices of ocean carriers.
The FMC took part in a virtual summit hosted by the European Commission (EC) to discuss “bottlenecks in the ocean-linked supply chain and the causes of service disruptions,” how other regulators have addressed the issue, and “possible actions to increase resilience and smooth operations in the sector.”
Read more: JOC
Owners explore the feasibility of carrying containers on capes
Leading names in dry bulk shipping are looking into the possibility of moving containers on Capesize bulk carriers as a novel way to help ease a supply crunch in the container sector. While smaller-sized bulkers have recently carried boxes, a shipping company considers using a Capesize bulker for container transport for the first time. An analyst said there were rumors that Star Bulk had fixed a 175,000 dwt Capesize for 1,200 empties and 200 laden containers moving Europe to China. But Star Bulk denied this.
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New Guides aims to help ports test cyber security
The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) on 2nd September released a new document to help global ports gauge their readiness to withstand cyber security attacks. The report, Cybersecurity Guidelines for Ports and Port Facilities, is intended to enable the development of response plans and to help ports assess “the true financial, commercial and operational impact of a cyberattack,” IAPH said in a statement. Over the last four months, the IAPH compiled the report with insight from security experts at 22 IAPH member ports, associate member cyber security specialists, and contributors from the World Bank. The guidelines also address what resources port organizations need to manage cyber security risks.