Lowering shippings carbon footprint – the Iranian version

A major international tanker operator has given detailed information on the steps it is taking in response to the shipping industry?s quest to lower greenhouse gas emissions from vessels.

Iran?s NITC currently has 42 oceangoing crude oil tankers in operation totalling over 10m. dwt; these include 28 VLCCs, nine suezmax and five aframax.

In addition, there is a considerable newbuilding programme, with 22 crude oil tankers due for delivery between 2010 and 2013, including three caspimax tankers.

Speaking in Dubai at this week?s ME Ship Tech 2009 conference, Mohammad Souri, chairman and managing director of NITC, said that climate change was the greatest challenge facing the world today. The IMO has agreed to voluntary proposals aimed at cutting vessels? carbon emissions. How should shipowners respond?

He said that international shipping was the most energy efficient and environmentally benign mode of transport. Given the industry?s global nature, mandatory measures to reduce carbon emissions must have almost universal participation. Improvements in clean technology were seen as an efficient means to reduce CO2 intensity.

Therefore, a step-wise plan of action was needed. He advocated promoting broad participation in voluntary measures. There was a vast potential for improvements in operational efficiency, fleet management, traffic control, cargo handling and energy efficiency.

As to NITC?s potential targets for reducing energy consumption by 28%, these were: voluntary speed reduction, 10%; reduced hull roughness, 5%; reduced propeller roughness and propeller vortex loss recovery, each 3%; speed optimisation, 5%; main engine fine tuning, 2%. The company intended to apply silicon antifouling to reduce hull resistance, consequent to reduction of fuel consumption (by 2.1%); modification of propeller edge and installation of Cap Fin propellers (new design by Wartsila), resulting in 6% saving in fuel consumption; installation of Cap Saver Fin on newbuild VLCCs, reducing fuel consumption by three tons per day.

In addition, there would be underwater and hull inspection every four months and cleaning if needed; optimising fuel by maintaining the fuel and turbo charger system; and installation of the Marinox system on new vessels, to tune the engine further by looking at all aspects of the engine combustion system and to deliver greater fuel saving while remaining within the limits of the NOX technical code.

Mr Souri said that NITC had formed a strategic partnership with Carbon Limits, Oslo, a leading international climate change consultancy and developer. Together they would analyse approaches and methods by which the Iranian and international shipping industry, proactively, effectively and without market distortion, could contribute to climate mitigation efforts.

NITC would co-operate in development of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project related to reduction of natural gas wastage, such as reducing flaring, elimination of leaks from infrastructure, and bringing gas to markets for use to foster sustainable development.