Decreasing ship speeds could improve human health, benefit the environment by cutting carbon emissions, and reduce whale collisions, according to new research commissioned by campaign groups Seas At Risk and Transport and Environment. The report, called ‘The multi-issue mitigation potential of reducing ship speeds’, indicated that carbon emissions could be reduced by circa 13% and 24%, if ships reduced their speed by 10% and 20% respectively. The reason for this is when ships travel slowly they burn less fuel, it said. In the report, the campaigners found that a 10% speed reduction causes the engine power to dip by 27%, and as a result, the energy required for the voyage is reduced by 19%. Alongside reducing emissions, the report said that a 20% speed reduction would curb pollutants that damage human health, such as black carbon, sulphur and nitrogen oxides. To view the full article visit Ship Technology.
