Hapag-Lloyd reduced CO2 by up to 27%

< Colombo Express >

In February, Hapag-Lloyd became the first shipping company in the world to have its entire own-managed fleet certified in accordance with the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).

The independent certification was carried out by Germanischer Lloyd and shows that many vessels in the Hapag-Lloyd fleet have an EEDI that is between 20% and 27% better than the average figure for the active global fleet in their respective classes.

This means that these vessels emit significantly less CO2 than the average of the world fleet.

The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is determined using a fixed formula and shows the CO2 emissions of a cargo vessel in grams per tonne transported and sea mile travelled.

EEDI was developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the shipping branch of the United Nations, in order to establish a standard benchmark for the energy efficiency and environmental impact of cargo vessels (container ships, bulkers, tankers, etc.).

The EEDI will be mandatory for newly built ships from 2013. At this point, the EEDI will set a standard of energy efficiency which must be met by newbuilt vessels.

This energy efficiency standard, in terms of the allowable upper limit for EEDI, will then be gradually tightened over time.

As Hapag-Lloyd has already invested a great deal in the development and implementation of the latest maritime technology, its more recent ships in particular are especially low in CO2 emissions.

In 2010, the “Vienna Express” was the very first ship in the world to receive an EEDI certificate. The 8,750 TEU ship is equipped with the latest technology and electronic control systems, which result in a 25% smaller CO2 footprint compared with the world fleet average for container vessels.

“The voluntary EEDI certification of our existing fleet means we have had the CO2 emissions of our vessel’s design examined by an independent third party. The results are extremely gratifying, but the EEDI figures also show us where we can do even better.

And that is what we are always looking for when it comes to conserving natural resources,” said Michael Behrendt, Chairman of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG. < Korea Shipping Gazette >