Dirty diesel is undoubtedly cleaner than petrol given that it works through a compression-ignition system. Though, it doesn’t portray a positive image when one sees a cloud of black smoke bucketing out of a jug on the motorway.

As one of the main causes of smog, Diesel is also linked to cancer and other health effects similar to those caused by second-hand cigarette smoking, according to the UN World Health Organization.

Although European cities look to phase out diesel-powered automobiles, heavy industry will likely be dependent on diesel and other dirty fuels for another two decades or so. 

Instead, if diesel is dirty, bunker fuel is filthy. Used in the maritime industry for shipping all sorts of goods around the world, this noxious energy source is distilled crude oil that generates high levels of nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide, which are known to cause asthma, heart disease and lung cancer. Accounting for 3% of global Green House Gas emissions according to the European Commission., this heavy, cheap fuel helps create the 940 million tons of carbon dioxide that international shipping contributes to the atmosphere.

Consequently, is there anything encouraging to say about the subject? What are the developments in advanced shipping technology? Will it be possible to restrain not only the environmental damage being done by shipping but also develop shipping transport conditions and lower vessel lifecycle costs? 

The electric revolution

Whilst, entrepreneurial inventor Elon Musk has yet to target the international shipping industry, choosing instead to focus on revolutionizing automobile travel with his fleet of autonomous and 100% electric Tesla cars. Never fear, there are comparable developments on the high seas with a number of automatically controlled, unmanned ships voyaging across the oceans. Autonomous ships for example, rely on an operator at an onshore control centre who helps navigate the ship; while the unmanned ships depend on an onboard automation system that controls everything from direction and speed to fuel consumption and maintenance. So sophisticated in fact, they are even capable of handling mooring operations in a harbour.

Although it is was initially thought that these ships of the future will still run on heavy fuel oil or diesel until revolutionary developments come to fruition to deliver unmatched power density, energy efficiency and operational reliability for hybrid or, eventually, fully electric maritime vessels, however, since 2018 a lot of new ships have actually been running on LNG, which is already much better than heavy fuel or diesel (as stated in a recently published article by CNBC).

Like upgrading a 1975 Cadillac with parts from a new Tesla, the new electric hybrid ships will merge traditional propulsion systems with battery-powered ones. The system works for most ships, including cruise ships, icebreakers and war ships, and has other marine applications.

The benefits are considerable and achieving emission free sailing is something Van der Leun China is continuing to develop and offer customers. Thanks to a strategic parentship with Van Alfen, we are proud to be able to be a part of this exciting revolutionary time in the maritime industry and offer solutions to combat global warming and work towards achieving global emission targets.