Path to Zero Emissions on Maritime Transport: A Multi-Criteria Perspective on Shipowners' Challenge
Abstract
The International Maritime Organization has started some studies to reduce emissions from shipping to zero by 2050 and adopted this as a policy. However, discussions continue on the feasibility of this policy. When looking at the near future targets, medium-term, and 2050 targets, ship owners, seafarers, party states, and many other stakeholders are in for tough times. In this study, the challenges awaiting ship owners within the scope of the 2050 targets were evaluated using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM). The results showed that financial issues (33.6%) are a critical challenge and that innovations will bring a significant economic burden. Operational issues (19.2%) and access to new fuels (18.9%), the impact of new systems on operations difficulties in accessing fuels, and storage issues are in the 2nd and 3rd place. They are followed by competitive pressure (15.2%), and finally, compliance with new regulations (13.1) was found. Costs are of critical importance for the world economy. Therefore, financial problems must be overcome first. Achieving IMO's 2050 goals requires significant investments, new regulations, international collaborations, and great dedication.
Keywords
IMO 2050 targets, Analytical hierarchy process, Zero emissions, Ship owners
Ethical Statement
The author declares that this study complies with Research and Publication Ethics.
References
- Ampah, J. D., Yusuf, A. A., Afrane, S., Jin, C., & Liu, H. (2021). Reviewing two decades of cleaner alternative marine fuels: Towards IMO's decarbonization of the maritime transport sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320, 128871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128871
- Andersson, K., Brynolf, S., Hansson, J., & Grahn, M. (2020). Criteria and decision support for a sustainable choice of alternative marine fuels. Sustainability, 12(9), 3623. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093623
- Balcombe, P., Brierley, J., Lewis, C., Skatvedt, L., Speirs, J., Hawkes, A., & Staffell, I. (2019). How to decarbonise international shipping: Options for fuels, technologies and policies. Energy Conversion and Management, 182, 72–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.12.080
- Bilgili, L. (2023). A systematic review on the acceptance of alternative marine fuels. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 182, 113367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113367
- Bilgili, L., & Ölçer, A. I. (2024). IMO 2023 strategy—Where are we and what’s next? Marine Policy, 160, 105953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105953
- Bullock, S., Mason, J., & Larkin, A. (2022). The urgent case for stronger climate targets for international shipping. Climate Policy, 22(3), 301–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2021.1991876
- Deniz, C., & Zincir, B. (2016). Environmental and economical assessment of alternative marine fuels. Journal of Cleaner Production, 113, 438-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.11.089
- Deng, S., & Mi, Z. (2023). A review on carbon emissions of global shipping. Marine Development, 1(4), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44312-023-00001-2
- Doelle, M., & Chircop, A. (2019). Decarbonizing international shipping: An appraisal of the IMO’s initial strategy. Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 28(2), 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.12302
- Grzelakowski, A. S., Herdzik, J., & Skiba, S. (2022). Maritime shipping decarbonization: Roadmap to meet zero-emission target in shipping as a link in the global supply chains. Energies, 15(6150), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176150
