New regulations aimed at improving the energy efficiency of international shipping are valid since 1. January 2013. The amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) were adopted in July 2011.They add a new chapter 4 Regulations on energy efficiency for ships to MARPOL Annex VI, to make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other amendments to Annex VI add new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate. The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. However, under regulation 19, the Administration may waive the requirements for new ships up to a maximum of 4 years. The EEDI is a non-prescriptive, performance-based mechanism that leaves the choice of technologies to use in a specific ship design to the industry. As long as the r... [More]

'Emerald', a Midsize concept bulk carrier of 35,000 dwt, designed jointly by Bestway Marine Engineering Design of Shanghai and classification society Lloyds Register, bettered by 18% existing performance of standard bulk carriers as measured by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 'Energy Efficient Design Index' (EEDI) according to the project leaders' announcement on 1, February 2011.It may be helpful to explain briefly 'EEDI', since it provided base measure for the  'Emerald' design team's work, and an associated new regulatory development also seems worth mentioning here.Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)EEDI relates to efforts by IMO to limit global warming through pollution of the environment by marine engines, allowing a specific figure for an individual ship design to be calculated by means of a fairly complex formula. It is expressed in grams of CO2 per ship's capacity-mile, and a smaller EEDI value indicates a more energy-efficient ship design. The far more co... [More]

'Refiners threaten anti-pollution efforts in shipping', blared the caption of a Reuters article by correspondents Kan and Fabi on 17, January 2011, then coincidentally, came news a couple of days later that Wärtsilä was to retrofit the Containerships Vll, 13,995 dwt,  (owned by Helsinki based Containerships Ltd. OY) with their diesel engine exhaust-gas scrubber. Wärtsilä's first ever installation of a commercial marine scrubber (to serve their W7L64 main diesel engine) is intended to enable the ship to meet impending targets for reduced exhaust gas emissions of SOx in Emission Control Areas's while continuing to burn diesel fuel with sulfur content above the set limits. Containerships Vll: Photo Credit, Jens Boldt Bunkers With Minimal Sulfur to Become Scarce? Experts in the field pronounce that SOx emissions in diesel engine exhaust gas‚ which mostly comprise sulphur dioxide with a small amount of sulphur trioxide‚ are a function of the amount ... [More]