Table 9.1 may be slightly misleading: container vessels are by far the most
energy-consuming ship type due to their speed. That is for kilowatt hours per tonkm.
But consider CO2 emissions. A Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) emits 3.6
and a Capesize bulk carrier as few2 as 2.7 g of CO2 per ton-km. This means that if
one were to move 120 tonnes of freight over a distance of 9,000 km, a typical
payload/range combination for a B 747—400 freighter, that freighter would
generate some 596 tonnes of CO2. The equivalent figure for a Capesize bulk
carrier, pro-rated for the same cargo volume, would be only 2.9 tonnes of CO2.
When transport modes are combined, i.e. in an intermodal logistical chain, the
result depends on the particular scenario and the chosen criteria. There is thus a
clear need to develop a method to assess the environmental performance of the
combined product. Such an evaluation needs to be coupled with traditional criteria
of logistical performance, with a view to improve both, if possible.
To attain verifiable progress towards a more environmentally friendly supply
chain, EU project ‘‘SuperGreen’’ has been launched (See Sjogren and Pedersen
2010). This is a so-called ‘‘Coordination and Support Action’’ co-funded by the
European Commission in the context of the 7th Framework Programme for
Research and Technological Development (FP 7). The project involves 22 partners
from 13 European countries These include transport, logistics and infrastructure
operators, shippers, environmental organizations and authorities responsible for