Concurrent Technical Session 4C-1: The Path to Ferry Emissions Reduction
Globally, in 2018 shipping was estimated to contribute 1,076 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 2.89% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, having grown from 977 million tonnes and 2.76% in 2012 – contributing to the growing climate change impacts around the world. In response to this, governments and regulators at various levels are setting emission reduction targets – for example, the Government of British Columbia has set a target for the transportation sector of 27-32% emissions reduction against 2007 levels by 2030, while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set a target of 40% reduction in carbon intensity of global shipping by 2030 compared to 2008, and to reach net-zero emissions by, or close to, 2050. To drive toward targets such as these, BC Ferries has gradually been implementing lower-emissions solutions for vessel powering and propulsion. This presentation will walk through the steps that BC Ferries has taken on this journey of decarbonization, including by examining some of the challenges along the way and possible opportunities and solutions for the future. Specifically, the presentation will look at the transition from the legacy diesel-based fleet to LNG-powered ships (new-build Salish class and converted Spirit class), noting this was an economic rather than an emissions-reduction decision; the Baynes Sound Connector cable-ferry, the first all-electric BC Ferry; plans for and challenges with use of bio-diesel, as well as considerations around other fuel types; and eventually to the phased electrification for new minor and major ship classes, first as hybrid vessels then eventually, with terminal electrification, as fully-electric ferries.
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Concurrent Technical Session 4C-2: Decarbonization – Rising to the Challenge: A Practical Roadmap for Maritime Transition
The shipping industry is going through a period of real change. Pressure is growing to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but owners and operators still must keep ships safe, reliable, and commercially viable. With international shipping responsible for a noticeable share of global emissions and the IMO now aiming for net zero by around 2050, the question is no longer if we decarbonize, but how we do it in a practical way. This session walks through a realistic roadmap for decarbonizing fleets, using examples that link what is happening on board ships today with the regulatory and market signals coming from charterers, financiers, and governments. Attendees will see how existing efficiency measures, new technologies, and alternative fuels can be combined into phased transition plans rather than one of projects.
Topics covered include:
- How proven measures such as hull and propeller upgrades, wind assisted devices, air lubrication systems, and better voyage planning can cut fuel use and emissions on today’s vessels.
- Where fuels like methanol, LNG, biofuels, ammonia, and hydrogen realistically fit, including their supply, safety, and lifecycle emissions, and what this means for future fleet decisions.
- The growing influence of IMO rules, regional schemes, and carbon pricing on operating costs and investment, and how “green corridor” trades may develop.
- The people side of the transition: skills, safety, and how to make change fair for crews and shore staff.
By the end of the session, participants will leave with a clearer view of which steps they can take now, which choices can be kept open for later, and how a structured decarbonization plan can support both environmental goals and long term competitiveness.