While the world grapples with the daunting specter of climate change, the maritime industry has been navigating a storm of criticism, often being branded a laggard in terms of its approach to climate change and decarbonization.
VesselBot’s latest report, “Decoding Maritime Emissions – Highs, Lows, and Green Leaders across global ocean routes” highlights some of the wins in the area of emission control while also highlighting the challenges that still persist.
This comprehensive report sheds light on the recent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission figures across various trade lanes, ship types, and sizes including the best and worst countries in terms of GHG emissions.
Key Takeaways from the report – Decoding Maritime Emissions – Highs, Lows, and Green Leaders across global ocean routes
Downward Trend in Emissions: The average emissions per kg/tonne have improved since last year. Between January and July 2023 emissions have dropped by 12% compared to the same period last year.
When comparing the emissions by trade lane, North Europe to the Middle East showed the best improvement in 2023 (Jan-Jul) compared to the same period in 2022 with a 75% drop in emissions.
Improvements by Vessel Groups: Three vessel groups, namely VLCS, ULCS, and Post Panamax II, exhibited significant reductions in emissions in 2023. Each group demonstrated a reduction of over 20% compared to the emissions recorded in the previous year.
While this improvement is plausible and welcome, the report delves into the possible factors that may have contributed to this achievement.
Emissions by Country of Departure: In the year 2023, New Zealand recorded the highest average emissions per tonne among countries of loading at 222 kg per tonne of cargo shipped. Conversely, the United Arab Emirates recorded the lowest at 71 kg per tonne.
Call to Action
This analysis serves as a blueprint for continued innovation and underscores the urgent need for collective action from the industry. It is also a clarion call to anyone involved in the maritime industry, environmental policy-making, or global trade.
VesselBot is encouraging all stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates, to download and read the full “Decoding Maritime Emissions” report for detailed insights.
This comprehensive analysis is a testament to the possible change and a roadmap for further reducing the maritime industry’s carbon footprint.
