4 April 2022 – The Optimal Route report examines strategies to reduce greenhouse gases in shipping, offers guide to decarbonisation role of digital technologies.
Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has published a new decarbonisation report  exploring the impact digital technology can make on shippingâs greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Compiled by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius, and sponsored by the Inmarsat Research Programme, The Optimal Route â The Why and How of Digital Decarbonisation in Shipping provides evidence that digital optimisation offers a key strategy for owners set on meeting International Maritime Organization (IMO) CO2 targets for 2050.
Opening by identifying three key digital steps to achieve their decarbonisation objectives, the report recommends that shipowners âKnow your numbersâ as Step 1 in the process. Owners should be in a position to measure vessel performance against metrics including the Carbon Intensity Index (CII) and the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). Based on the findings, Step 2 recommends developing a roadmap for decarbonisation, to include a flexible approach to asset purchasing and development. Step 3 advises owners to participate in green corridor schemes to gain access to favourable ship finance.The report goes on to outline the industryâs âpathway to 2050â, highlighting the policy-based initiatives that will play the most significant role in guiding shipping towards decarbonisation. These include âJust-in-time clauses for voyage charter parties 2021â; the Poseidon Principles ship finance charter, which seeks to encourage financial institutions to invest in greener vessels; global maritime carbon levies to accelerate the uptake of zero-carbon fuels; and the Sustainable Shipping Initiativeâs âbeyond complianceâ scheme.âNew regulations and changes to the way cargo owners are selecting transport partners mean that âbusiness as usualâ is no longer an option and this report from Inmarsat and Thetius demonstrates a positive way forward for shipowners,â said Ben Palmer, President at Inmarsat Maritime. âShipping lines that act decisively on digitalisation and decarbonisation will move ahead; those that donât will be frozen out of preferential financing, green incentive schemes and the most lucrative charter and cargo carriage agreements.âTechnology itself is also a focus, with several software tools developed to enhance shipping efficiency described in detail. According to the report, software that facilitates the remote execution of surveys and inspections, training and certification, and vessel pilotage can support environmentally friendly operations, as can those enabling paperless trade and voyage optimisation.In its concluding chapter, âSpotlights on successâ, the report further explores some of the applications featured, presenting case studies to highlight the way performance management platforms can be used to offer significant reductions in GHG emissions.âWe need to act now to decarbonise the world fleet but alternative fuels wonât be available at a large enough scale for at least ten years,â commented Nick Chubb, Founder and Managing Director at Thetius. âDigitally-driven optimisation is the only tool we have to improve carbon intensity that is available today and can be quickly scaled to every ship.âTo download the report please visit  www.inmarsat.com/en/insights/maritime/2022/optimal-route.html
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat is the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications. It owns and operates the worldâs most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band, enabling unparalleled breadth and diversity in the solutions it provides. Inmarsatâs long-established global distribution network includes not only the worldâs leading channel partners but also its own strong direct retail capabilities, enabling end to end customer service assurance.
The company has an unrivalled track record of operating the worldâs most reliable global mobile satellite telecommunications networks, sustaining business and mission critical safety & operational applications for more than 40 years. It is also a major driving force behind technological innovation in mobile satellite communications, sustaining its leadership through a substantial investment and a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners.
Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its customers across the globe.
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