Solar hybrid vessels
In the near future, the availability of cheap energy is likely to become a major issue as fossil fuels begin to decline. Ship transport will be among the sectors most directly affected. Even if peak oil lies further into the future than currently predicted, another trend coming into play is the need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions. A recent study by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) claims that emissions from the shipping industry now stand at roughly 1 billion metric tons per year.* This is nearly 3% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, or eight times the total CO2 released by all volcanoes on Earth.* If shipping were ranked as a country, it would be equivalent to the 6th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.*
Both peak oil and global warming have spurred efforts to create new and more efficient ship transport systems. There are many technical and operational means by which this is being achieved. These include new propeller and rudder designs, more flexible use of engines, waste heat recovery, better route planning, improved weather routing systems and autopilots, speed optimisation and improved slot time and turn-around systems in ports and canals.
A more exciting, innovative and longer-term solution is the use of solar and hybrid technologies. The car industry is already beginning to go electric, with a majority of new vehicles predicted to be electric or hybrid-electric by 2030. Eventually, the shipping industry could see widespread adoption of electric too.