More Information Exchange Needed to Cut CO2 Emissions

The international shipping industry needs to work more quickly towards global digital standardisation if it is to reduce its CO2 emissions.

Speaking at the Singapore Maritime Technology Conference April 25, 2018, Argyris Stasinakis, a partner with ship tracking intelligence company MarineTraffic, told the audience that more information exchange between shipowners, shippers, ports, equipment manufacturers and IT companies was needed to meet the ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

“Reducing shipping’s environmental footprint isn’t just about fuel choice and vessel design. It’s about deploying our assets intelligently,” Stasinakis said.

He explained that this can be done if the industry is able to build a common approach to data standards and be more prepared to share this data.

MarineTraffic, a part of the IMO’s Global Industry Alliance, believes that more industry stakeholders need to be involved in taking a holistic approach to optimising the voyage from berth to berth and go far beyond standard routeing services which are currently available. Open data and transparency can positively contribute to the overall competitiveness of the shipping industry, significantly improving efficiency.

“I passionately believe in the concept of positive disruption in the shipping industry. The benefits of better data are significant: lower fuel consumption, lower emissions, improved berth occupancy, tighter time windows for delivery of services,” Stasinakis concluded.