Discussion of new rules on reducing greenhouse gas emissions of ships UN agency meeting begins November 17, 6:03
A committee of the IMO (International Maritime Organization), a specialized agency of the United Nations, started on the 16th, and discussions are underway on new rules proposed by Japan and others that require the reduction of greenhouse gases in ships.
The Maritime Environmental Protection Committee of the IMO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is chaired by Hideaki Saito, Technical Deputy Director of the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, and is attended by about 110 countries. started.
There is an urgent need to formulate measures such as a 40% increase in the volume of transportation by ships around the world in the last 10 years, and at the conference, 19 countries, mainly Japan, will reduce greenhouse gases from ships. New rules have been proposed to mandate.
According to this, for ships that are already in operation, we will set a certain reduction target value for each type and size of ship, oblige to reduce fuel consumption by speed limit, etc., and reduce greenhouse gases.
Then, the regulatory agency investigates and ranks the fuel efficiency performance of each vessel for one year, and for vessels with a low evaluation, it is included that an improvement plan is submitted.
While some countries are demanding more in-depth content, especially in Europe, regarding ship regulation, there are also voices against it due to economic background.
Whether the new rules will be approved will be decided on the final day of the month, 20th of this month.
Chair "Important First Steps to Agree"
Hideaki Saito, Technical Deputy Director-General of the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said, "I know that each country has different views on this proposal, but there is a framework that regulates almost all ships in the world. I think this is an extremely important first step because it means that we will be ready. I want to overcome the expectations of each country and do my best to reach an agreement. "
Current status of greenhouse gases from shipping
Regarding measures against global warming in international shipping, IMO will work to reduce greenhouse gases, apart from the Paris Agreement, which is an international framework for measures against global warming.
In 2013, IMO mandated newly built ships to keep their design greenhouse gas emissions below a certain level, and put into effect measures to gradually tighten the regulations.
In addition, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050 and develop next-generation fuel vessels such as hydrogen that do not emit carbon dioxide to reduce emissions to zero as soon as possible in this century. We have adopted a strategy that incorporates this.
On the other hand, looking at the actual emissions, according to the 2017 summary of the IEA = International Energy Agency, ships account for 2.1% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, which is higher than aircraft emissions. It has been.
The amount of transportation by ship has increased by 40% in the 10 years until the adult, but according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the emission from the adult ship was 920 million tons, which has been flat since 10 years ago. I am.
It is believed that this is the result of the reduction of emissions through regulations on new ships and technological developments to improve fuel efficiency.
Ship transport volume is projected to increase further by 2050, and further measures are needed.
Advance technological development to reduce greenhouse gases
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established a system to promote the technological development of ships that will lead to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the introduction of ships that use fuels that emit less greenhouse gases such as LNG = liquefied natural gas.
Of these, NYK, a major shipping company, launched the first large cargo ship in Japan this month that sails on LNG = liquefied natural gas, which emits less greenhouse gases than conventional heavy oil.
Ships that use LNG are expected to reduce carbon dioxide by 40%, sulfur oxides by 99%, and nitrogen oxides by 86% compared to ships that use heavy oil, and the company will be new for the next 10 years. All freighters for automobiles to be made will use LNG.
Furthermore, we have set a goal of developing a large cargo ship that emits zero greenhouse gases by 2050 by using hydrogen, which does not emit carbon dioxide, as fuel and by utilizing solar energy.
In addition, as a method to improve the propulsion efficiency of ships already in service, an "air lubrication system" that sends air to the bottom of the hull to reduce resistance due to friction between the bottom of the ship and seawater, and water in front of the stern propeller. We have developed equipment that increases propulsion by installing a plate that controls the flow.
The carbon dioxide reduction effect on its own is said to be around 5%, but each company is strengthening its development because the combination of these measures will produce a large effect.
Hidehiko Sato, Group Leader of NYK's subsidiary, said, "I am proud that Japan's shipbuilding technology is the best in the world. I think that only technology can solve the warming problem, so I will continue to research new ways of ships. I want to go. "