Green Waves Hitting Sea

Friday, 23 October 2009 00:00

Did you know that CO2 emissions from ships represent 3.5 % of the global total – even higher than emissions from aviation, which constitute 2 %?

As the environmental impact of the marine industry has become a major challenge for ship owners and ship builders, the commitment to sustainable development is increasing. Environmental accidents linked to marine industry are not only getting attention but also raising public debates. Going green is then not only good for the environment - it is also good for the business.

STX Europe, a leading builder of cruise and offshore vessels, has also recognized this. They are now presenting a new innovative, environmentally friendly cruise ship with sails and onboard LNG power. EOSEAS is a 305 metres long and 60 metres wide five hulled ship. With the slogan “Leaving marks on people’s mind, not on the sea”, EOSEAS is made up of several environmental innovations:

• Alternative energies, such as sails installed on 5 masts covering a 12.440 m² surface, power the ship
• Natural gas operates new generation generators that provide electricity and heat and cool the ship,
• Solar panels provide electricity and create a double skin which acts as a natural air conditioning system
• Energy is recovered from the waste treatment
• Water is recycled and rain water is collected
• The ships hydrodynamic characteristics are optimised thanks to an air cushion under the main hull.
• Air emissions are limited

The EOSEAS ship is part of STX Europe’s environmental plan which aims to protect water and its ecosystems, preserve natural resources and limit the human activity through new innovations. Check out the EOSEAS presentation on YouTube.

Shipping taxes to combat climate change
Shipping emissions have so far avoided the criticism the aviation industry has been faced by, partly because maritime shipping is by far the most carbon efficient mode of transporting goods. But after uncovering even higher emissions than those from aviation, a further study by the International Maritime Organisation estimated that emissions from global shipping fleets could increase dramatically as demand for larger ships continued to grow. It warned that without action emissions from ships could increase by a staggering 72% by 2020.

A formal global agreement on emission taxes in the shipping industry is on the way, ahead of the UN climate change conference in December. An emission tax is also being discussed within the EU, which could force the shipping industry to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 20% below 2005 levels over the next ten years.

Both for cruise ships and other offshore vessels, green innovations are still expensive. A cruise holiday with EOSEAS might be an expensive way of traveling right now, but hopefully we’ll all be sailing on green waves in the future!