Connect with us

Decarbonisation

Study: Optimising port arrivals could reduce voyage emissions by up to 25%

A new study by UCL and UMAS found that optimising port arrivals to take into account port congestion or waiting times could reduce voyage emissions by up to 25% for some vessel types.

Admin

Published

7 months ago

on

RESIZED Chris Pagan

Maritime consultancy UMAS on Thursday (5 December) said its new study, completed with UCL, found that optimising port arrivals to take into account port congestion or waiting times could reduce voyage emissions by up to 25% for some vessel types. 

The study, which analysed ship movements between 2018 to 2022, found that the average potential emissions saving for the voyages is approximately 10% for container ships and dry bulkers, 16% for gas carriers and oil tankers, and almost 25% for chemical tankers. 

The study finds that these ships spend between 4-6% of their operational time, around 15 to 22 days per year, waiting at anchor outside ports before being given a berth. 

Dr Tristan Smith, Professor of Energy and Transport at the UCL Energy Institute, said: “The IMO set ambitious GHG reduction targets in 2023. Meeting those targets means unlocking all efficiency opportunities – including voyage optimisation and operations around ports.”

“This will only happen if CII remains a holistic metric covering all emissions, and incentivising shipowners, charterers and port stakeholders to break down long-running market barriers and failures.”

Over the period 2018-2022, chemical tankers, gas tankers, and bulk carriers spent increasing waiting times at anchor before berthing, rising to 5.5 to 6% of time per annum, by 2022. Waiting times for oil tankers and container ships stayed approximately constant (around 4.5% and 5.5% respectively). 

Some of the increase in waiting times may be attributable to the port congestion caused during Covid-19 and by a post-pandemic surge in maritime trade.

The study also found that smaller vessels generally experience longer waiting times, though this varies by vessel type. Previous report by the authors, Transition Trends, has shown that poor operational efficiency is one of the main reasons for increased emissions in the period 2018 to 2022.

Dr Haydn Francis, Consultant at UMAS, said: “Our analysis highlights the current and growing issue of port waiting times and the inefficiency they represent. This is just one piece of the broader operational inefficiency puzzle that is key to generating the short-term emissions reductions that will need to be achieved before 2030.” 

“By targeting these idle periods, the IMO can unlock significant emissions reductions while also reinvigorating improvements in operational efficiency, which have stagnated since 2012.”

The waiting behaviour stems from the common operational practices such as “first-come, first-served” scheduling and the “sail-fast-then-wait” approach—and is exacerbated by systemic issues such as port congestion, inadequate data standardisation, inflexible charterparties (between ship owners and charterers), and limited coordination between the many wider stakeholders involved in a loading/unloading operation (port authorities, cargo owners etc.).

The study showed that the CII regulation should consider all aspects of the voyage and not just the ‘sea-going passage’ as some have proposed, as it can incentivise stakeholders to come together to find solutions to reduce the GHG intensity of the ships across the value chain, instead of just isolating those parts where the shipowner or charterer are fully in control of. 

Limiting the CII to only parts of the voyage would mean that the well-known market barriers at the interface of ship-port operation would remain under incentivised and continue to persist, making the 20%-30% absolute GHG reduction in 2030, relative to 2008, specified in IMO’s Revised Strategy more difficult to achieve.

The work also highlighted the contribution of port congestion to system-wide inefficiencies. Port congestion has been highlighted by low-income member states, as a disadvantage to them and their efforts to decarbonise. 

Although unable to be looked at in depth in this study, this suggests that there could be links between efforts to find system efficiencies at the interface between ships and ports, and the efforts to enable a just and equitable transition, which are an important feature of the design of midterm measures.

Note: The full report titled ‘Port congestion, Waiting Times and Operational Efficiency’ can be found here. 

 

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 10 December, 2024

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Biofuel

GREENMARINE and Vertoro to accelerate adoption of lignin-alcohol as marine fuel

Like fossil oil, liquid lignin can be used as a platform for fuel, chemical and material applications.
Admin

Published

3 days ago

on

July 11, 2025

By

Chuttersnap 1 1 MT

Methanol marine fuels consultancy GREENMARINE and Vertoro, a Maersk-backed Dutch start-up focused on developing liquid lignin technology which can be used as a bunker fuel, has signed an agreement to jointly accelerate the market validation and commercial roll-out of lignin-alcohol as sustainable marine fuels.

“We at GREENMARINE Group are excited to join forces with Vertoro to bring their revolutionary lignin alcohol blend fuel to market,” said Fredrik Stubner, founder and CEO of GREENMARINE Group.

“This breakthrough technology redefines sustainable maritime fuels, delivering environmental benefits and cost efficiencies, paving the way for a greener, more competitive shipping industry.”

Dr. Michael Boot Boot, co-founder & co-CEO Vertoro, replied, “GREENMARINE Group has an excellent track record as a match maker for green fuel producers with engine manufacturers and shipping companies, opening many doors for us on both the fuel validation and offtake side.”

Vertoro, founded in 2017, produces liquid lignin exclusively from sustainably sourced forestry and agricultural residues by means of a patented thermochemical process. Like fossil oil, liquid lignin can be used as a platform for fuel, chemical and material applications.

Related: Maersk invests in Dutch start-up Vertoro to develop green lignin marine fuels

 

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP from Unsplash
Published: 11 July 2025

Continue Reading

Biofuel

Singapore: Sea Oil Petroleum receives ISCC EU certification, mulls increasing product portfolio

‘Sea Oil seeks to do its part for climate change by giving options to support to our end users,’ says Steve Goh, Head of Trading.

Admin

Published

4 days ago

on

July 10, 2025

By

Sea Oil logo

Singapore-based bunker trading firm Sea Oil Petroleum Pte Ltd (Sea Oil), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand-listed Sea Oil Public Company Limited, has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) EU certification, learned Manifold Times.

ISCC EU is a certification scheme that verifies compliance with the sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids within the European Union. It ensures that biomass and biofuels used in the EU meet specific environmental and social requirements, including greenhouse gas emission reductions and traceability throughout the supply chain.

The milestone, which took place on 22 May after two months of processing, was reflective of the company’s aim to expand its bunker fuel product offerings to clients seeking sustainable solutions, Steve Goh, Head of Trading at Sea Oil, told the bunkering publication.

“It is important for the bunkering sector to remain relevant, adapt, and play an active role in supporting shipping’s decarbonisation journey,” said Mr Goh while adding that, “this is in line with our group’s green initiative and sustainability drive.”

“As such, Sea Oil seeks to do its part for climate change by giving options to support to our end users.

“By achieving ISCC EU certification, Sea Oil will be in a better position to provide green marine fuel solutions to customers embarking on this journey towards net zero.”

Manifold Times in May reported Sea Oil welcoming a Senior Bunker Trader to its team.

The company started 2025 with an expanded team on both international and local fronts.

Sea Oil Petroleum may be reached at: [email protected]

Related: Singapore: Sea Oil Petroleum boosts Asia and international presence with new Senior Bunker Trader
Related: Singapore: Sea Oil Petroleum enters 2025 with international representatives, expanded team

 

Photo credit: Sea Oil Petroleum
Published: 10 July 2025

Continue Reading

Port & Regulatory

India: DGS seeking for comments for proposed national biofuel bunkering guidelines

Guidelines to align Indian practices with international conventions, contributing to a modern, resilient, and environmentally conscious maritime ecosystem.
Admin

Published

4 days ago

on

July 10, 2025

By

DGS biofuel bunkering guidelines

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Mumbai on 3 July issued a notice inviting comments from stakeholders on the draft circular on Biofuel bunkering Guidelines.

“Increasing global emphasis on decarbonising the maritime sector has accelerated the adoption of biofuels as a sustainable alternative to conventional marine fuels,” it explained.

“Biofuels, particularly drop-in types such as Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME), Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters (FAEE), Straight Vegetable Oils (SVO), Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO), Bio-FT-diesel (bio-Fischer-Tropsch diesel) and Biomass-to-Liquid (BTL) fuels, offer considerable benefits by reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions without necessitating major modifications to existing shipboard fuel systems.

“However, the absence of standardised national guidelines for biofuel bunkering operations in India introduces potential challenges related to safety, fuel quality assurance, environmental protection, and operational consistency.”

The proposed circular aims to bridge these gaps by establishing a clear regulatory framework for permitting, operational protocols, safety management, documentation, environmental safeguards, training requirements, and enforcement mechanisms specific to biofuel bunkering.

By implementing these guidelines, the Directorate seeks to ensure safe and reliable bunkering practices, promote the use of cleaner fuels in alignment with India’s environmental commitments, and support the growth of sustainable maritime infrastructure.

The guidelines are crucial for facilitating the responsible uptake of biofuels in the shipping sector, aligning Indian practices with international conventions, contributing to a modern, resilient, and environmentally conscious maritime ecosystem.

The full draft circular on biofuel bunkering guidelines can be obtained from DGS’ website here. Comments and inputs should be sent to: [email protected] and CC to: [email protected] by 18/07/2025.

 

Photo credit: Directorate General of Shipping
Published: 10 July 2025

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS



Trending