Cargo Equipment Upgrade for energy efficiency

The ship operator should consider all ships in the fleet when considering the upgrade of the ships’ cargo handling and stowage equipment to reduce GHG emissions but the methods that can be used will depend on the type of ship, where it is operating and the cargo it intends to carry. The loading, discharging and cargo care equipment that may be considered would include the following:

  • Ventilation (all ships)
  • Mooring (all ships)
  • Cargo and hold lighting (all ships)
  • Reduction of CFCs (reefer)
  • Heating coils (tankers)
  • Cooling system (reefer)
  • Cooling system (container)
  • Cargo temperature optimization (tanker)
  • Cargo vapour control procedures (crude carriers)
  • Ballasting/de-ballasting (all ships)
  • Water cooled reefer plant with lower energy consumption
  • Insulation of heating pipes (tankers)
  • Optimisation of reefer container stowage
  • Use VOCs to power engine or process and send ashore (Norway shuttle tankers).

It may be possible in some situations to upgrade the cargo equipment either fitted to the ship or used ashore to improve the energy efficiency of the operation. This will require the development and installation of more advanced equipment which will be expensive, however, this cost may well be offset by a more speedy as well as efficient loading or discharge functions as well as a reduction in use of energy by the cargo-related equipment (MariEMS 2017).