Towards sustainable shipping: development in CII performance of a Bulk Carrier

Abstract

The maritime industry, a significant greenhouse gas emitter, faces pressure as it must shift towards net-zero emissions. This is leading to a growing importance of energy efficiency and sustainable practices. This thesis presents the improvement in the environmental per-formance of a kamsarmax size bulk carrier within the context of an EU funded project CHEK. The study focuses especially on presenting how the ship design and various energy-saving technologies work in synergy and affect the rating of the carbon intensity index, developed by the international maritime organization. The theory section of the thesis discusses the development of the carbon intensity index, the calculation method, and potential future adjustments to it. The study considers varied modern technologies such as sails to capture wind energy, hull air lubrication and waste heat recovery systems, that are integrated in the ship design and their effect on the ship’s energy efficiency. The results show several interconnections between the different energy system components, giving valuable insight into the environmental performance of the ship as well as its improvement potential. The energy efficiency and environmental performance of ships play a crucial role in advancing towards a zero-emission industry. These results provide a small outlook into the importance of assessing energy-saving devices from an energy system perspective to achieve that.