Global Shipping Industry Could Use Existing Efficiency Measures to Cut Emissions & Increase Profits
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.19.09

Compared to sending goods long distances by truck or airplane is far less efficient than sending them by ship, and on the level of an individual product the emissions not that great, in the aggregate shipping is a major source of emissions—about 3% of global emissions in fact. A new report though shows that the shipping industry not only need not worry about emission reduction programs increasing their costs; in fact, deploying methods to cut emissions could actually save the industry money:

That's the word coming via WWF of the International Maritime Organisation. According to their new report, in a business-as-usual scenario global shipping emissions could double or even triple by 2050. However, existing operational and technological efficiency measures could reduce emission rates by 25-75%. (A pretty big range...)

Kites, Going Slower, Hull Upgrades... All Would Save Money and Reduce Emissions
The Second IMO GHG Study says that many of these efficiency improvements will actually save more money than is required to implement them. Measures cited as being ultimate money savers include using kites to supplement engines, speed reductions, and upgrades to hulls, engines and propellers.

The report also found that emissions trading schemes or a bunker fuel levy would be effective methods in reducing shipping emissions