Technologies to Make the Ultimate Green Ship

The shipping industry has often been criticized for their negative impact on the environment. Some of these negative impacts include air pollution, water pollution, and oil pollution. However, the industry is now starting to take their impact on the environment more seriously than ever before. From the manufacturing to the administration levels, the industry as a whole is moving towards more environmentally-friendly tactics in order to get their work done.

One of the ways in which they are doing this is by implementing new technologies into their every day operations that will help minimize their carbon footprint. These new technologies not only help to preserve the environment, but they also help to enhance the customer shopping experience as well. For example, the use of shipping APIs reduces many errors and complications associated with the overall shipping process. Reducing these errors results in reduced costs, and a much smoother overall shipping process.

There are many different types of technologies the shipping industry is using, including Biofriendly’s Green Plus® Smog Reducer, in order to help minimize their carbon footprint. In this article, I will be discussing five impactful technologies the shipping industry is adopting in order to make the ultimate green ship.

1. Speed Nozzles

Speed nozzles provide power to the ship, and are typically used in small supply vessels and tugs. By using speed nozzles, as opposed to traditional methods such as kort nozzles to power your ship, you are saving fuel by approximately 5%. Reducing fuel helps to preserve the environment because the burning of fuels releases harmful chemicals into the earth’s atmosphere. The less harmful chemicals you release into the atmosphere, the better for the environment. Although saving 5% of fuel may not seem like a lot, the reality is if every ship reduced the amount of fuel they used by 5%, it would have a tremendously positive impact on the environment.

2. Waste Heat Recovery Systems

A waste heat recovery system is something many ships have already been using for a long time. However, recent advancements in technology, such as more efficient energy sources, make these systems more eco-friendly than ever before. These recent advancements now make it possible for these systems to save up to 14% of total fuel consumption. The way in which these systems work is as follows: The waste heat from the exhaust gases of the ship are saved and converted into steam. This steam is then used for heating cargo area, accommodations, extra fuel, etc.

3. More Efficiency In Steering Gears

A ship’s steering gear is essentially what enables a ship to turn while moving in the water. In the past, these steering gears were designed without any regard for the environment. However, recent advancements in technologies have enabled engineers to be able to design these steering gears in a more efficient way that is not only eco-friendly, but also more cost effective as well.

There are two types of steering gears that fit under the above criteria. They are called the hydraulic and electro-hydraulic steering gears. The way in which these steering gears work is as followed. They develop hydraulic pressure through the use of hydraulic pumps which are mainly driven by electric motors or sometimes through purely mechanical means. This pressure then triggers the necessary rotary movements in the rudder system allowing for a ship to turn safely. 

By using one of these two efficient steering gears, you can help reduce your ship’s overall fuel consumption by approximately 4% on any given voyage. Not only can this help reduce the amount of fuel your ship uses, but it can also improve the speed of the vessel. If you do not use one of these types of steering gears, you are essentially wasting fuel. Since these steering gears benefit both shipping companies and the environment, there is no reason why any shipping company shouldn’t use them.

4. Heat Exchangers

A heat exchanger’s main function is to reduce the temperature of any medium by transferring the temperature of one medium to another. In order for these heat exchangers to work properly, both mediums you wish to transfer temperatures must be separated by a wall-like structure. Otherwise, the transfer is not possible.

In the past, these heat exchangers were not built as efficiently as possible. They used to be designed in a way that limited the surface area of the wall separating the two mediums. However, engineers are now maximizing the surface area of this wall, which in turn, minimizes the flow resistance of the fluid. By minimizing the flow resistance of the fluid, you are maximizing your possible fuel savings. By maximizing your fuel savings, you are helping to preserve the environment, and cut costs as well.  

5. LNG Fuel

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuel is essentially a natural gas in a liquid state. Natural gases are the cleanest and most eco-friendly burning fossil fuels known to mankind. Since LNG fuel is just a natural gas in a liquid state, a ship can reduce its overall carbon emissions by using them, rather than using traditional fuels that burn coal. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, LNG fuel is also odorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive as well. LNG fuel has already been labeled as the future of the shipping industry.

In summary, the shipping industry is just now starting to take into account their impact on the environment. In years past, making sure their methods of doing business were eco-friendly was not a concern. Due to the recent “green” movement in society, the shipping industry is now realizing, in order to stay relevant, they need to start being more environmentally conscious. The way in which they are doing this is by implementing new technologies on their ships and using these technologies to reduce their carbon footprint.