Leading industry associations have sent a strong message to shipping’s main regulator not to sacrifice safety by reducing ships' power as part of efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The concern is that an upgrade of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which sets minimum efficiency standards for newbuildings, will encourage the design of underpowered ships and that environmental matters will be prioritised over safety.
The warning comes from the so-called "Tripartite Group" of industry associations made up of shipbuilders, classification societies and shipowners including Bimco, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), European shipbuilding association SEA Europe, the International Chamber of Shipping and Active Shipbuilding Experts' Federation.
After a recent meeting in Nantong, China, the Tripartite Group said: “There are increasing concerns that new regulations governing ship designs aimed at further reducing CO2 emissions could potentially have adverse effects on the safe operation of ships.”
“One example would be any legal requirements that led to a further reduction of engine power. The concern is that ships could get into problems during bad weather if the engine is insufficiently powered, putting both the crew and the environment at serious risk.”
Applying pressure
The industry group's statement is being viewed as an attempt to put pressure on the IMO where talks to upgrade EEDI standards are coming to a head in the next few months.
An easy way to reduce emissions per tonne of cargo carried is to reduce engine power while maintaining or increasing cargo capacity.
But there are obvious implications for safety of navigation in circumstances where additional power may be required due to heavy seas.
Under the Marpol convention, which includes the EEDI, criteria is established for minimum engine power.
Marpol states: “For each ship to which this regulation applies, the installed propulsion power shall not be less than the propulsion power needed to maintain the manoeuvrability of the ship under adverse conditions.”
However, a technical definition of installed propulsion power, manoeuvrabilityand adverse conditions will be critical to determine each ship’s power requirement. These definitions are being drawn up in a series of IMO guidelines.
One proposal is that the installed power should be sufficient to maintain manoeuvrability in Beaufort 8 (the equivalent of gale-force winds). But the industry would like to see ships fitted with sufficient power to cope with the much tougher sea conditions often encountered.
IACS secretary general Robert Ashdown says it is critical that the IMO balances the competing demands for cleaner shipping with safety and sets out clear technical guidelines. “It is important that the IMO sends out a strong statement in the primary convention,” he said.
