Wind-powered ship propulsion (WPSP) is the concept where the wind is the main source of thrust, while the traditional propulsion system operates when needed. This type of propulsion can lead to considerably reduced emissions, something that the shipping community is striving for. A well-known example of WPSP is the Oceanbird with the goal to cut emissions of up to 90%. In this study, the propeller design process for a wind-powered car-carrier (wPCC) such as the Oceanbird is investigated, what the various challenges of WPSP are and therefore how an automated optimisation procedure should be approached. A controllable-pitch propeller was selected as suitable propeller type for the operation of the wPCC, and various functions such as windmilling, feathering and harvesting have been explored. Regarding the optimisation procedure, an essential input is the definition of the operational profile, in order to determine the most important conditions for the route. The main objective of the optimisation is the minimisation of the total energy consumption (TEC), calculated based on a selection of conditions using the potential flow solver MPUF-3A. Cavitation has been evaluated by the blade designer, through an interactive optimisation method. The results showed that designing and optimising for the most highly loaded condition led to solutions with the lowest TEC.
Trade imbalances and global disturbances generate mismatches in the supply and demand of empty containers (ECs) that elevate the need for empty container repositioning (ECR). This research investigated dry ports as a potential means to minimize EC movements, and thus reduce costs and emissions. We assessed the environmental and economic effects of two ECR strategies via dry ports-street turns and extended free temporary storage-considering different scenarios of collaboration between shipping lines with different levels of container substitution. A multiparadigm simulation combined agent-based and discrete-event modelling to represent flows and estimate kilometers travelled, CO2 emissions, and costs resulting from combinations of ECR strategies and scenarios. Full ownership container substitution combined with extended free temporary storage at the dry port (FTDP) most improved ECR metrics, despite implementation challenges. Our results may be instrumental in increasing shipping lines' collaboration while reducing environmental impacts in up to 32 % of the inland ECR emissions.
Management of operational disruptions with support of information is essential to facilitate the shift from road to rail and to ensure efficient hinterland intermodal transport chains. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the operational efficiency effects of information on operational disruption management in hinterland transport with a dry port to facilitate efficient intermodal hinterland transport. For that purpose, a simulation model with five scenarios was developed and applied using empirical data from a real-world case of a hinterland transport chain with a dry port. The results show that the resource utilisation of the trucks that deliver containers from the dry port to the receivers can be increased using the information that supports management of the disruption. Nevertheless, in attempts to increase resource utilisation when managing the disruption, issues arose from efficiency measures that are important for other actors, e.g. the receivers.
Onshore power supply (OPS) reduces emissions from vessels docked in port. Historically, the uptake of OPS has been low, and research indicates that potential OPS adopters face multiple complex barriers. Based on a systematic literature review, this paper presents a framework for categorizing barriers and drivers to the implementation of OPS and identifies potential areas for future research. The review indicates that research on barriers to OPS was limited until 2019, when interest increased considerably, coinciding with mounting stakeholder concerns and regulatory pressure. The suggested framework divides barriers and drivers divided into four key categories: (i) technology and operations, (ii) institutional elements, (iii) economic elements, and (iv) stakeholder elements. The framework then superimposes those categories on three main areas of concern: port, transmission, and vessel. Research has identified potential solutions to specific barriers, but the complexity of OPS highlights the need for a collaborative approach to OPS. Additionally, as regulatory pressure is rising, more research is needed on the systemic implications of OPS as well as the potential use of incentives, pricing, and business models to tackle the high cost of implementation.
International shipping plays a vital role in the world's transport system and economy. However, shipping faces challenges in terms of reducing its environmental and health impact, namely emission of greenhouse gases, air pollutants, and chemical substances to the marine environment. In particular, the roughness condition of underwater surfaces of a ship hull affects the ship's energy efficiency, with marine growth (biofouling) and mechanical roughness leading to propulsion powering penalties. Measures to control biofouling, using antifouling coatings and in-water hull cleaning, may also be associated with significant impacts to the marine environment. In the current study, a new tool is presented, HullMASTER (Hull MAintenance STrategies for Emission Reduction), which aims at enabling the shipping industry and authorities in the Baltic Sea region to make evidencebased decisions on hull maintenance strategies. HullMASTER simulates emissions to air and water, to calculate the differences in economic cost for operators, as well as health- and environmental damage costs between different hull maintenance scenarios. Validation of HullMASTER predictions against 40 vessel-years of in-service performance data on propulsive performance, with operations in the Baltic Sea region, shows good agreement, averaging within 5 percentage-point difference in propulsion penalty. Further, a scenario-based demonstration of HullMASTER on a general cargo vessel shows that, in the comparison between a silicone foul-release coating and business-as-usual scenario of a biocidal coating, retrofitting the coating to a foul-release coating can result in significant savings for society, i.e., along with marginal savings in cost for ship operators. Results for such comparisons and analysis will however be dependent on specific vessel cases and operational profiles, thence the value of an interactive tool such as HullMASTER.
