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FROM THE EDITOR
KEEPING UP THE PACE OF CHANGE
Sandra Speares Editor, Clean Shipping International
As the shipping industry gears up for the next wave of deadlines and targets for meeting environmental commitments, it is clear that time is not on owners’ and operators’ sides and they are coming under more pressure to reduce emissions. As recent presentations by industry players show, efforts made thus far may be insufficient and the drive should be towards net zero rather than reductions specified by international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization. That said, a lot of work has been achieved as companies and industry bodies get together to explore new relationships that aim to tackle environmental targets. It should also be said that it is not just a question of ticking the boxes as far as deadlines are concerned, but ensuring that companies can actually implement change in the longer term, even if they are able to meet the deadlines in the short term. Failure to ensure that change can work in practical terms has been a problem in the past as far as implementing new rules are concerned. However, there has been a huge effort on many fronts to explore innovative new paths to reducing emissions as some of the contributors to this edition of Clean Shipping International demonstrate. Whether it is retro-fitting duel fuel systems, using hybrid power, nuclear energy – now back on the agenda after being beyond the pale at times in the past – or wind power, there are a lot of impressive initiatives for consideration. Use of scrubbers has been one means of filling the gap between the use of higher sulphur products and the new range of fuels, which hopefully will become increasingly available and affordable for operators. Companies are now beginning to look beyond the scrubber stage to realistic alternatives. As operators seek to cut costs and avoid costly and logistically difficult periods in dry dock, there are also rafts of new initiatives out there on the IT front, not only to manage emissions, but also to make working patterns more efficient while offering better value for money. Hopefully, if the situation begins to ease as far as the pandemic is concerned, pressures on crew issues and port time will ease, which will go a long way towards helping operators as they go forward with green initiatives. One thing is certain, though: there will be a great deal of attention paid to shipping’s performance when it comes to environmental issues and the industry will need to move forward rapidly with initiatives to meet requirements – perhaps more rapidly than many players would like. We hope you enjoy this edition of Clean Shipping International.
C L E A N S H I P P I N G INTERNATIONAL – Spring 2022
