Taiwanese container line Yang Ming Marine Transport said it has fulfilled its "green promise" by cutting carbon emissions by 51% last year.
The company, which also has bulkers, said the figure is a culmination of work it has put in since 2008 to cut its greenhouse gas output.
The 51% applies to emissions per teu-kilometre, which beats the IMO's target of a 40% cut by 2030 and 50% by 2050.
The shipowner and operator put its success down to "continuous fleet optimisation".
This has included using electrical fuel injection engines, converting vessels to onshore power, using low-sulphur fuel oil and fitting energy-efficient propellers.
Other measures adopted were the modifying of ships' bulbous bows into a low-speed "sea-sword" design and using low-friction paint on hulls.
"To achieve the targets, Yang Ming has formulated several long-term strategies, including implementing 12 vessel modification and optimisation projects, and accelerating the vessel renewal plan by eliminating vessels over 20 years of age and adding 10 2,800-teu, 20 14,000-teu and 14 11,000-teu eco-friendly smart vessels," the owner said.
Emissions not blowing in the wind
Yang Ming has also cooperated with weather service provider Weathernews Inc to build a monitoring system to manage fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
And the company is further evaluating the possibility of developing dual-fuel engines using LNG or other greener fuels.
The outfit said it switched early to low sulphur fuel oil at Kaohsiung and Shenzhen in 2018.
Then in the fourth quarter of 2019, Yang Ming’s fleet moved to very low sulphur fuel oil.
"Furthermore, Yang Ming has actively participated in vessel speed reduction programmes initiated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Taiwan International Ports Corporation to...protect the marine ecology," the company added.
Yang Ming saw its loss widen in the first quarter as both boxships and bulkers suffered weaker earnings.
The company said the net loss to 31 March was $27.2m, compared to $22.1m a year ago.
Revenue was down 1% at $1.15bn.
The Taipei company booked an $11m loss from subsidiaries, including its bulker business.
