Establishing a Climate Sensitive International Freight Sector

At the recent International Chamber of Shipping conference held in London, its chairman, Esben Poulsson highlighted concerning trends that the shipping and maritime sectors need to be aware of. He recognised there are three major challenges for the industry to tackle: maintaining the authority of IMO; addressing the legitimate demand for even greater levels of environmental protection and making policy makers better aware of the industry’s existing achievements. He continued by stating that “the current trend of the EU Member States’ positions to be co-ordinated by the EU and given as one response rather than individual members taking part in the debates is having a negative impact on decision making.” This is something the sector needs to be mindful of in order to protect the global maritime regulatory system provided by IMO. In light of this, the shipping industry must be proactive in its response to the increasing demands for environmental performance. As the demand for the worldwide shipment of goods increases, so does the impact to the environment; each year maritime transport emits approximately 1000 million tonnes of CO2 and is responsible for around 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Shipping emissions are predicted to increase between 50% and 250% by 2050 – depending on future economic and energy developments. Strong leadership and innovation within the industry is needed in order to meet commitments made to climate goals. The reputation of the shipping industry depends now on its environmental performance. Complete sustainability is impossible to achieve as fuel itself is non-renewable, however once petroleum-based fuel is bought, the efficiency of operations can still be measurably improved and environmental impact reduced. The important thing is to maximize sustainability wherever possible. Aderco specialises in the development and production of advanced fuel treatments to address that issue as well as improve fuel efficiency. For an engine to operate efficiently, the fuel burn must be as complete as possible. Aderco fuel treatment solutions ensure a cleaner, more complete combustion, eliminating many of the difficulties that arise in untreated fuels. Acting as a sludge dispersant, fuel stabiliser and combustion improver, Aderco fuel conditioners protect the fuel investment while delivering better efficiency and performance as well as lower emissions. Vessels can then operate at their full efficiency, with reduced fuel consumption and maintenance costs, alongside reduced emissions into the environment. An additional benefit for the maritime industry is that Aderco products offer the highest concentration, which translates into a low cost per tonne treated and ensures an immediate return on investment. The high product concentration unique to Aderco products also means a smaller packaging footprint, which in turn further reduces logistics costs. These savings are further enhanced by Aderco’s high level of stock availability at strategic locations around the globe. The fact that Aderco fuel treatments are classified as non-dangerous and are not subject to transport restrictions is also a very important aspect in ensuring quick response and trouble-free delivery. Olivier d’Olne, General Manager of Aderco Marine, adds: “With our fuel treatment competence being second to none, we are committed to satisfying very demanding customers both through innovative solutions and outstanding service. Based on a partnership for progress, it greatly assists that our fuel treatment products more than pay for themselves with the savings they generate.” As a company that continuously and progressively looks forward, the fast approaching challenges of biodiesel fuels are already being addressed by Aderco, with solutions showing compelling results for keeping bacterial growth under control without biocide action. Already more than 20 million metric tonnes are treated every year and this is growing as customer numbers increase. The Global Fuel Additives Market 2015-2019 report states that the market is expected to be worth 8.6 billion USD by 2020. The shipping industry needs these kinds of proactive approaches to improve environmental performance and meet the demands of society.

For more information on Establishing a Climate Sensitive International Freight Sector talk to Image Line Communications Ltd.