Operational efficiency takes centre stage at Global Maritime Forum’s AGM in Athens
The Global Maritime Forum, a not-for-profit organisation working to create a decarbonised shipping industry, has identified five key action areas to improve the operational efficiency of vessels with 30 top names in maritime, attending the association’s AGM in Athens, committing to adopt these measures.
The five actions cover: data collection and transparency; contractual changes; pilot projects; ports, terminals, and value chains; and culture and leadership. Participating companies and supporting organisations have signed an ambition statement agreeing to take collective action in these five areas, diligently assess their maturity and progress, and take a leadership role in bringing operational efficiency to the forefront of the shipping agenda.
A series of insight briefs published by the Global Maritime Forum highlighted that operational efficiencies can decrease annual fuel consumption by 20%.
“Optimising shipping operations provides an opportunity to act now, using existing technologies and not requiring high capital investments or complex regulatory compliance,” a release from the forum pointed out.
“Capitalising fully on operational efficiency will be a prerequisite to achieving the 2030, 2040, and 2050 emissions reduction targets that were recently introduced as part of the International Maritime Organization’s revised greenhouse gas emissions strategy,” said Jesse Fahnestock, the Global Maritime Forum’s project director for decarbonisation. “Operational efficiency measures should and can be taken now, without waiting for new technological advancements like the procurement of zero-emission fuels and newbuild vessels.”
The signatories of the operational efficiency ambition statement are: Amaggi, Blue Visby, Bunge, Cargill, Chevron Shipping, COFCO International, Copenhagen Commercial Platform (CCP), Euronav, Genco Shipping, Lloyd’s Register, Louis Dreyfus Company, Maersk Tankers, NAPA, NYK Group, OCIMF, Oldendorff Carriers, Port of Açu, Port of Rotterdam, PSA International Pte Ltd, Rubis Energie, Siglar Carbon, Signol, Stena Bulk, Stephenson Harwood, Torvald Klaveness, UKHO, Viterra, Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW), Wisdom Marine Group, and Zero North.
Lieve Logghe, Euronav’s interim CEO, described signing up the initiative as a “no-brainer”.
“The initiative enables cross-industry peers to pool actionable knowledge and to share actual real-life experiences – resulting in an impact on both the environment and the bottom line of the company,” Logghe said.
