On July 15, 2011 the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from ships.

The MEPC adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships that included adding a new chapter 4 that makes mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships.

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 required energy-efficiency level is attained, ship designers and builders would be free to use the most cost-efficient solutions for the ship to comply with the regulations.

The EEDI requires new ships to meet a minimum level of energy efficiency. Ships built between 2015 and 2019 will need to improve their efficiency by 10%, rising to 20% between 2020 and 2024 and 30% for ships delivered after 2024.

The SEEMP establishes a mechanism for operators to improve the energy efficiency of ships.

The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above and are expected to enter into force on January 1, 2013.

Technological developments have long since been considered the most promising option for shipping to reduce its environmental footprint and lower its overall emissions.

This section, which is constantly being developed and updated, presents you with a number of existing technologies that claim to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and have been tested or are considered by experts in the global maritime industry including the IMO to have the potential to reduce key emissions.

• Propulsion
  • Engine Design
  • Alternative Fuels
  • Renewable Energy
  • Nuclear Power
• Exhaust Clean Up
  • Scrubbers
• Operational Enhancements
  • Weather Routing / JITA
  • Hull and Propeller Optimisation