Climate change politics. Also inside: Future of the ultra large container ship. MOL Emerald, Std. artist's impression
Date: 2010-01-14
Challenges and opportunities
I am honoured to be the new DNV Business Director for Container Ships, taking over for Knut A. Døhlie. With his dedication and enthusiasm, Knut has been a key factor in bringing DNV to its current position in the global container ship market. We are committed to further strengthen DNV’s role and our services towards this industry.
Climate change politics and shipping – decoding the issues
The United Nations COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen December this year has as its goal to hammer out a comprehensive and legally binding international treaty governing world-wide CO2 emissions. While reaching this ambitious goal now appears to be very much in doubt, it still remains likely that any kind of political agreement reached will have significant ramifications for shipping.
Keeping an eye on laid-up vessels
In the world of shipping, lay-up has been considered a negative term associated with a bad market, loss of income and unused equipment. A recent check of the world fleet shows about 900 vessels with an officially declared lay-up status. However, the real number of vessels that are idle is much larger than this as many owners do not want to be tied by lay-ups and want to be able to mobilise their vessels quickly when the market turns around soon, as they hope it will.
Poor fuel quality and increased maintenance costs can tax savings from slow steaming
Slow steaming is here to stay and operators are adapting to the new reality. What are the challenges and how can they be met? Let’s take a look at the issues involved in ensuring safe and reliable container shipping.
Climate Challenges
The exhaust emissions from burning of fuel are affecting the global climate in addition to causing environmental impacts like acidification, overgrowth and smog. Emissions can be significantly reduced through the use of more efficient design and technology, more careful energy management as well as the implementation of feasible emission reduction technologies.
LNG, a fuel for the container ship industry?
Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is in focus for new consumers due to the environmental benefit and the increasing availability as an alternative to oil. It is composed of 90% methane which is a colourless gas with a boiling point of –162º Celsius. So it is quite different from HFO and diesel.
MOL Emerald
This is an artist’s impression of the recently delivered MOL Emerald from the DNV 2010 Calendar.
The future of the ultra large container ship
The biggest container ship deployed has grown at a tremendous rate over the past few decades. The driving force has been international globalisation. Increased competition and economy of scale have fuelled the development of ever bigger ships.
Low Sulphur Fuels: Properties and challenges
DNV has prepared material about potential consequences of the introduction of the EU Directive 2005/33/EC and new sections of the California Code of Regulation title 13/17.
An Owner’s View: A.P. Moller-Maersk
A.P. Moller-Maersk takes their environmental responsibility seriously. Optimisation on bunkers through technical and operational means savings in fuel costs that are good for the environment and for the bottom line. “It’s healthy for the business and it’s the right thing to do. We have a leadership obligation to push ourselves to reduce emissions in general,” says Søren Stig, Senior Director of Maersk Line’s Sustainability Department.
New Business Director Container Ships
Vebjørn Guttormsen succeeds Knut Døhlie as Business Director – Container Ships.
Upturn in handling volumes and economic forecasts contribute to recovery perspectives for smaller boxships
In autumn 2008, the collapse of the US-Investment bank Lehman Brothers triggered the next round of the financial crisis and became widely acknowledged as a symbol for the latter. The sharp economic decline that followed turned the entire container shipping industry upside down within a couple of months.