Independent UCL study commissioned by International Paint reveals true impact of clean technology and key role that a standard measurement methodology can play.
 

Monday, February 17, 2014

An independent study conducted by leading academic institute, University College London’s Energy Institute (UCL-Energy), has revealed significant findings about the shipping industry’s attitude to fuel consumption monitoring, clean technology and its impact on energy efficiency, and the importance of developing a common standard methodology that accurately monitors and measures the environmental and economic benefits of all eco-efficient technologies. 

The study, ‘On the attitudes and opportunities of monitoring and measurement and the identification and validation of energy efficiency and performance interventions’ obtained stakeholder responses in the summer of 2013 and is the most comprehensive independent research into fuel consumption monitoring to be conducted in recent years. The full report can be downloaded here. 

130 responses were collated from a broad spectrum of ship owner-operators, ship owners, management companies and charterers, with almost equal responses from companies with main operational regions based in the EU and Asia, demonstrating global coverage. 

The report’s authors Isabelle Rojon and Tristan Smith, UCL Energy Institute said: “The survey responses demonstrate that there is already significant activity both in the implementation of fuel measurement procedures and retrofitting activity, however, there is also a strong need for a common standard measurement methodology with which assessments of intervention’s fuel savings can be quantified. The results also highlighted the need that any measurement methodology be inclusive of all stakeholder’s measurement technologies and techniques and can be applied to assess any retrofit technology (hydrodynamic devices, machinery, propellers, fuel and hull coatings).” 

International Paint commissioned the study to develop and share knowledge about the current extent of fuel consumption monitoring within the shipping industry, attitudes to its use, and the key reasons it is being used for from both a commercial and compliance perspective.  

The key preliminary findings from the research include: 
 

• 87% of the shipping industry consider it important to measure emissions using a standard methodology
  
  
• One quarter believe that any new standard should be mandatory within IMO regulations
  
  
• 86% of respondents have adopted multiple clean technology measures over the last five years, with hull coatings representing 70%, making it the most widely adopted and cost-effective form of clean technology used in the market today
  
  
• 70% of respondents stated that energy efficiency was a board agenda item
   

Mr. Trevor Solomon, Business Manager at International Paint said: “This study demonstrates that the shipping industry is being highly proactive in taking the issues related to sustainability very seriously. It is also clear that the majority want a common and transparent vessel performance standard that covers the full spectrum of current and impending eco-efficient technologies – an issue currently being discussed in the ISO working group developing a clean technology performance standard, which International Paint is actively involved in.  

“Creating a standard that is scalable and applicable for the long term, as eco-efficiency technologies develop is crucial, and as ship owners and operators continue to embrace the environmental and financial benefits of sustainability and increasing the efficiency of their fleets.”