An expert industry study, published in March 2015 by CE Delft has established that the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), as set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is not driving technology uptake.
In fact, the study suggests that economic cycles are having a greater impact on efficiency improvements than the EEDI.
The expert study, entitled ‘Historical Trends in Ship Design Efficiency’, was produced for the Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) in order to understand the factors that have contributed to energy efficiency change over time. Interestingly it found that newbuild ships that have an EEDI which meet or exceeds the required standards have performed the same as those which are older and not required to meet the index parameters.
The study also found that ship efficiency changes witnessed in recent years appear to be the result of high fuel prices rather than the due to effect of regulation.
According to the study, two-thirds of containerships, half of general cargo ships and a quarter of tankers launched in 2015 already overshoot regulatory requirements for the 2020 EEDI standards without the use of innovative technologies. This suggests that improvements in design efficiency are due to market conditions, rather than being the bi-product of standards such as the EEDI standards.
The study also examined economic cycles and historical fuel prices and concluded that ship efficiency gains are intrinsically linked to fluctuating fuel process and varying economic cycles. The study also exposes the fact that there is a risk that the EEDI may just prevent a reversion to the less efficient ship designs of the past, rather than encouraging design improvements.
However, the study does state that the impact of the EEDI standards may become more important in the coming years as a result of the lower fuel prices. These experts predict that if the EEDI requirements are heightened, making energy efficiency requirements greater, then the design efficiency of ships could increase once again.
Following the publication of the study results, members of the CSC, chiefly NGOs Seas at Risk (SAR) and Transport & Environment (T&E), have voiced their concerns over the lack of impact the EEDI has had on ship efficiency.
In light of this study, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is to engage in discussions on the EEDI 2020 target to understand whether the stringency of the regulation should be retained or amended. The IMO MEPC 69 meeting is being held from 18-22 April. It is this committee that will decide on a recommendation from a sub-group reviewing the EEDI standard.
Ship Efficiency Review News
To contact the editor responsible for this article email editor@fathom-mi.com
