New Zealand’s reputation as a clean and green country has taken a hit in a new report on global container vessel emissions; the country a victim of its distance from the main tradelanes where larger, more efficient ships work.
The study carried out by tech firm VesselBot analysed emissions by country of departure from January to July this year, looking at nations that have over 100 vessel calls a year.
In 2023, New Zealand recorded the highest average emissions per tonne by country of loading at 222 kg per tonne, while the United Arab Emirates had the lowest at 71 kg per tonne.
“This variance could be due to a combination of distances traveled and the type of vessels in operation on specific routes,” the authors of the report observed, adding: “It is worth noting that countries of origin or destination do not possess any control over the type of ships that call at their ports unless specific emission policies are in place.”
