A Guide to Ship CO2 Indexing
A Guide to Ship CO2 Indexing
Ship CO2 Indexing For Environmental Management Systems and Carbon Trading
The inclusion of both aviation and shipping industries in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for greenhouse gases has been proposed by a number of EU Member States, and the shipping industry is starting to look at how emissions trading may be adapted for use in this diverse, global transport mode.
The UK Chamber of Shipping, the body that represents UK-based commercial shipping, has announced that it is going to take a leading position in the international shipping industry’s response to climate change by advocating a global and open emissions trading scheme.
In 1997 the IMO adopted Resolution 8 of the 1997 International Conference of Parties to MARPOL 73/78 that looked at CO2 emissions from ships. This resolution invites the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to consider what CO2 reduction strategies would be feasible for ships.
IMO Assembly further adopted resolution A.963(23) on IMO policies and practices related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, which requests the MEPC to develop a greenhouse gas emission index for ships, and guidelines for the application of that index.
This document constitutes the guidelines for the application of an IMO CO2 emissions index for ships. It sets out:
• what the objectives of the IMO CO2 emissions index are,
• how a ship’s CO2 performance should be measured, and
• how the index could be used to promote low-emission shipping, in order to help limit the impact of shipping on global climate change.
MEPC Circ.471 – Guidelines for Ship CO2 Emissions Indexing
The MEPC provided a set of guidelines, set out in MEPC Circ.471, to provide guidance on achieving the targets set by IMO resolution A.963(23). They provide help in establishing a mechanism to allow companies to achieve the limitation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from their vessels.
The guidelines put forward the concept of an index for the energy efficiency of a ship in operation, expressed as CO2 emitted per unit of transport work. The guidelines are intended as an objective, performance-based document for guidance on monitoring of the efficiency of ship operation.
While these guidelines are only recommendatory, they do present a possible application of an index that shipowners can implement in their environmental management systems for performance monitoring.
Establishing a CO2 Operational Index
In order to establish the CO2 index, the following main steps need to be executed:
1. Define data sources for data collection.
2. Collect data.
3. Convert data to appropriate format.
4. Calculate CO2 index.
For existing ships, the CO2 index should represent a period of one-year. Guidance on the calculation procedure for the index is provided in the Appendix of MEPC Circ.471.
For newly built ships the CO2 index should represent an average value of the energy efficiency of the ship operation over a period of not less than six months.
Data Recording and Documentation Procedures
The method used for recording data should be uniform so that information can be easily collated and analysed to access the required information. The collection of data from ships should include the distance travelled, the quantity and type of fuel used, and all fuel information that may affect the amount of carbon dioxide emitted. Fuel information is provided on the bunker delivery notes that are required under regulation 18 of Annex VI to MARPOL.
The unit used for distance travelled and quantity of fuel should be expressed in nautical miles and metric tonnes. The cargo should be expressed as outlined in the guidelines for each different vessel type.
It is important that sufficient information is collected on the ship with regard to fuel type and quantity, distance travelled and cargo type so that the efficiency of the ship can be compared with other modes of transport.
The distance travelled should be calculated by actual distance travelled, as contained in the ship’s log-book.
Monitoring and Verification
Documented procedures for regular monitoring and measurement should be developed and maintained. Elements that the guidelines recommend for consideration when establishing these procedures are:
• identification of operations/activities with impact on the performance;
• identification of data sources and measurements that are necessary, and specification of the format;
• identification of frequency and personnel performing measurements; and
• maintain quality control procedures for verification procedures.
The results of this self-critical analysis should be reviewed and used as indicators of the system’s success and reliability, as well as identifying those areas in need of corrective action or improvement.
It is important that the source of figures established are properly recorded, the basis on which figures have been calculated and any decisions on difficult or “grey” areas of data.
Application of Guidelines
The use of ship CO2 indexing, as described in the MEPC guidelines, provides a transparent and recognised approach for assessment of the green house gas (GHG) efficiency of a ship with respect to CO2 emissions.
When using the CO2 index as performance indicator, the index should be given a perspective relative to absolute data and trend data:
• The main indicator may be greenhouse gas emissions from energy use.
• Absolute data may be total tonnes of annual CO2 emissions.
• The CO2 index may represent the normalised data (CO2 per tonne mile).
• Trend data may be the index value compared with previous years.
Internal performance criteria and targets could be established as a benchmark for the CO2 index.
Results from monitoring and measurements could be reported to the management.
A management review may include the review of targets, objectives, and CO2 index to establish the continued suitability in light of changing environmental impact and concerns, regulatory developments, concerns among interested parties, market pressures, internal changes/organisational activity changes, and changes in the environment.
MariNOx™ – Continuous Emissions Data for CO2 Indexing
Both the formula and general guidance for creating a CO2 index is provided in the Appendix of MEPC Circ.471, however, there is a far easier and less time consuming way of calculating the index score. A number of high profile clients have already chosen to install Martek Marine’s MariNOx™ system for the purpose of CO2 indexing.
MariNOx™ was the world’s first on-board NOx, SOx & CO2 emissions monitoring system to receive marine Type Approval (LR & DNV) and remains the market leading system with well over 100 systems installed by some of the best know shipping companies and shipyards in the World. The system is available to cover all of the above gases or in a version that just measures CO2.
How MariNOx™ Makes CO2 Indexing Easier for You
As a direct result of searching for ways to make our client’s lives easier and going the extra mile to meet their needs, Martek have now developed an upgrade to the MariNOx™ operating software that actually incorporates the calculations included within MEPC Circ.471, removing the need for complicated manual calculations.
The software ugrade includes:
• The CO2 index calculation to provide a reference output numerical
• The option to configure MariNOx™ to include boilers (not just diesel engines)
• A user input for the chemical composition of the ‘u’ value
The new software is available both as an upgrade on existing MariNOx™ systems and on new systems on request.
Get More Information
If you would like more information about CO2 indexing and how the MariNOx ™ on-board emissions monitoring system can help you achieve your indexing goals, email us at webenquiries@martek-marine.com or call us on +44 (0)1709 599222.
