
Nowadays there is a wide variety of cargo ships used in national and international maritime transport. We must be aware that this transit of passengers and goods across seas and oceans also generates high total CO2 emissions. And that is why sustainable ships have become an important anchor to achieve carbon neutrality in the current and future environment.
SUSTAINABLE SHIPS TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS
The development of net-zero emission fuels is necessary to avoid 17% of global carbon emissions generated in seas and oceans by 2050. Leading companies and the most developed countries are leading the way in the name of decarbonization.
The IMO (International Maritime Organization) has been committed for many years to limiting the impact of port pollution.
Some of the measures to achieve this have included improving the energy efficiency of new ships or reducing aerodynamic speed during navigation. Various initiatives have also been developed to reduce the impact of port operations, which account for 9% of the industry’s emissions.
In this way, maritime transport is becoming more sustainable, especially in the Nordic countries, where many ships already run on biofuels and are committed to using electric batteries on their ferries.
SHIPS WITH MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FUELS
IMO has considered several eco-fuel options for the future and there are already companies in the shipping and energy industry working hard to make ships more environmentally friendly. These options are:
- ammonia
- biofuels
- electric power
- fuel cells
- hydrogen
- methanol
- wind energy
- synthetic fuels
- advanced biofuels from wastes
The boom in the use of fuels with low or zero carbon footprint is what will enable a relevant reduction in CO2 emissions.
TYPES OF CARGO SHIPS FOR MARITIME FREIGHT TRANSPORT
As we said before, we have a wide variety of types of ships that we use in the transport of goods. Below, we detail their definition and characteristics:
Container ships
These are the vessels most commonly used in international trade and transport. They are large, automatic, modern and even zero-emission ships.
General Cargo Vessel
This is a basic dry and irregular cargo vessel, not suitable for containers, also known as a multipurpose vessel. This type of vessel has its own cranes for loading and unloading at the port of departure and port of arrival.
Bulk Carrier or Bulk Carrier
Bulk carriers are used for the maritime transport of bulk goods such as cereals, minerals and fertilizers, but they can also transport timber, steel products and machinery. Bulk carriers are versatile vessels and can be used for a variety of international transport purposes.
Ro Ro vessel
Refers to vessels that carry goods on wheels, especially cars, trucks or locomotives. These vessels have ramps and platforms for the assembly and stabilization of all types of vehicles and a large opening at the stern or bow, through which cargo can enter and be removed.
Within this category, there is the Car-Carrier vessel, specifically designed for the loading and unloading of cars only.
Reefer Vessel
They are designed for the maritime transport of goods that require refrigeration to be kept in the best conditions. They are capable of reaching higher speeds, as they are essential for international trade in the transport of perishable goods such as foodstuffs.
Oil tanker
Its purpose is to transport crude oil to the refineries where it is processed. In this class of ships we find the so-called supertankers, which due to their enormous size must be moored offshore. In an effort to reduce the risks in the event of an accident, there is a growing trend to transport oil in smaller tankers.
Liquefied gas tanker
Used for the transport of liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas, goods that move at different temperatures and pressures. In addition, as these are hazardous materials, it is necessary to use these specialized structures for loading and unloading.
Chemical cargo vessel
Carries a wide range of chemical products and has specific safety systems to avoid possible leaks with serious consequences. It is easily recognized, as it has pipes that are visible from the outside.
Livestock vessel
A type of vessel used to transport live animals and which has areas to provide feed, water and ventilation for the animals. Some vessels may also have open-air pens, although they are usually enclosed.
Float-on/float-off or heavy lift cargo vessel
This type of vessel is intended for the transport of very heavy or bulky goods, such as special industrial machinery. They are usually equipped with systems that make them semi-submersible to facilitate unloading processes.
EGLOBE, SPECIALISTS IN LOGISTICS AND INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORT OF GOODS
At eGlobe we are well positioned in the main ports of the state such as Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Algeciras, Vigo and Bilbao.
We also have a wide network of international correspondents, which allows us to offer a wide range of quality shipping services, always opting for sustainable measures that lead to carbon neutrality in the environment.
Remember that if you need to hire the services of a company that performs all types of maritime transport of goods internationally, in eGlobe we are specialists in logistics and transport with a long experience in large volume loads. Ask for a quote with total confidence.