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THE RIGHT COURSE SUSTAINABILITY • STOLT TANKERS HAS PUT IN PLACE OPERATIONAL CHANGES THAT ARE ALREADY DELIVERING LOWER FUEL CONSUMPTION AND, THEREFORE, LOWER EMISSIONS STOLT TANKERS SAYS it has managed to reduce its fuel consumption by 6 per cent since 2020, adjusted for changes to its fleet composition. This has delivered CO2 emissions reductions equivalent to taking 18,000 cars off the roads for a year. Stolt notes that, following the signing of the Glasgow Climate Pact, it is clear that environmental concerns are increasingly pressing for governments and businesses alike. To support the shipping industry’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint, in 2020 Stolt Tankers published its ambition to reduce its own carbon intensity by 50 per cent by 2030 (relative to 2008) and to become a fully
HCB MONTHLY | DECEMBER 2021
carbon-neutral business by 2050. There are two drivers for that: first is a simple ambition to operate more sustainably; but secondly there is also a business imperative in the face of new legislation, such as the upcoming EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). As from 2023, shipowners will be charged for each tonne of in-scope CO2 emitted. This presents a considerable challenge for the shipping industry where costs are already at an all-time high, margins are thin and supply chains increasingly volatile. HOW TO GET THERE Stolt Tankers explains that it has achieved savings in the consumption of bunker fuel by improving operational and technical efficiencies and fleet optimisation. Speed and trim were optimised according to weather conditions and enhanced maintenance programmes – including additional hull and propeller cleaning – also reduced fuel use. In addition, several ships were installed with advanced power-saving propeller fins. The bunker savings directly correlate with
a reduction in CO2 emissions. At a time of high oil prices, and therefore high bunker prices, this also generates a considerable cost saving. Commenting on the need to reduce CO2 emissions and the new carbon tax, Lucas Vos, president of Stolt Tankers, says: “Stolt Tankers has a long history of doing the right thing when it comes to protecting people and the planet. We support requirements for businesses to reduce carbon emissions. We are working hard to meet our new carbonreduction goals and I am pleased to see that we are making good progress towards these ambitions. However, the impact of further regulation, including the EU carbon tax, will be felt all the way through the supply chain as costs must inevitably be passed on to our customers and, ultimately, the end consumer.” Stolt Tankers is also partnering with other leaders in the maritime community to explore new technologies focusing on decarbonisation, emissions reduction and alternative fuels. The company is a member of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and is seconding staff to the centre to collaborate on decarbonisation projects. Stolt Tankers is one of the three largest operators of chemical tankers in the world, with a fleet of more than 150 sophisticated ships carrying chemicals, acids, edible oils and clean petroleum products. www.stolt-nielsen.com
