Renewable practice is transforming shipping. The industry has already begun to embrace green shipping - a concept that promotes the sustainability of sea transport, covering container ships, bulk carriers, and passenger ferries.
At CFP Energy, we help shipping operators navigate complex regulations and reduce their carbon emissions. Contact our team to see how we can help you with your EUA procurement and maritime compliance.
In the meantime, this article will cover all the key elements of green shipping for maritime operators subject to the EU ETS / UK ETS - from green shipping corridors to green shipping protection.
What Does Green Shipping Mean?
Green shipping means reducing the environmental impact of shipping as much as possible. In practice, this means cutting emissions, reducing pollution, protecting marine life, and optimising operations to make them more energy efficient.
The methods to achieve these goals are varied; however, they include common approaches such as:
- Cleaner energy sources (new low-emission biofuels)
- Enhanced navigation (optimising routes using digital tools)
- Reduced engine load (solar and wind-assisted systems)
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What are Green Shipping Corridors?
Green shipping corridors are dedicated sea lanes featuring key infrastructure, including fuelling stations and maintenance facilities, that support sustainable shipping.
Along these routes, shipping operators can collaborate to fast-track the adoption of zero-emission fuels, along with the feedstocks that support it.
The purpose of green shipping corridors can vary, but the aim is usually to encourage the rolling out of green infrastructure, such as electric shore power, enabling ships to recharge at specified docking points, or to accelerate the development of new rules and regulations and the adoption of new biofuels.
At present, the main green shipping corridors are the long-distance Rotterdam-Singapore route, the UK-Amsterdam route, and the Los Angeles–Shanghai route, with many more planned in the near future.
A Note on 'Green Shipping Protection'
It’s common to come across the term 'green shipping protection' in online retail. In this context, it typically refers to a service offering package insurance, covering loss, theft, or damage during delivery. This is usually bundled with carbon offsetting for the emissions from that single delivery.
However, 'green shipping' in this instance describes something quite different. The broader context of green shipping focuses on cutting the environmental impact of the ships and their operations directly, not just offsetting the carbon from individual parcels.
Why the Drive Towards Greener Shipping?
As governments, trade bodies, and international bodies like the European Union legislate for tighter climate regulations, the shipping sector, as one of the ‘big emitters’, has been identified as a key area for environmental reform.
These environmental changes are, in practice, driven by a number of initiatives:
- Climate Targets: Countries worldwide need to hit their goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
- New Rules: Governments keep bringing in new regulations for emissions and environmental standards.
- Customer Pressure: People and businesses increasingly demand sustainable ways to get goods.
- Future Savings: Greener methods also promise long-term operational savings and better efficiency.
How CFP Energy Supports the Green Shipping Transition
Sustainable innovations like green corridors are vital for securing the future of maritime trade. These seafaring lanes offer a meaningful route to ensuring long-term sustainability, providing an innovative network of docking points and embodied standards.
At CFP Energy, we specialise in advising on the energy side of green shipping. We supply cutting-edge biofuels, including FAME and HVO, as well as EUAs to meet compliance and manage your exposure. To see how we can help, contact our team today.
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