Seafarers Involvement in Implementing Energy Efficiency Operational Measures in Maritime Industry

The Fourth GHG Study 2020 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that 2.89% of total global anthropogenic CO2 emissions had been emitted by international shipping. IMO's initial strategy is to set carbon intensity goals of at least a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions per transport work by 2030, and a 70% reduction by 2050 must be met. This has led IMO to introduce guidelines for calculating energy efficiency in both the design and operation phases using the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). In the decade between 2008 and 2018, the energy efficiency of international shipping operations advanced by one-third. By adopting energy efficiency design and operational measures and introducing innovative technologies, many shipping companies worldwide reported remarkable financial and environmental benefits by saving fuel on every voyage. Ships are operated by ashore technical managers and aboard crewmembers; thus, they are directly involved in implementing energy efficiency operational measures. Therefore, the scope of this study is only limited to ashore technical managers and aboard ship crews only. This study has found that Master and Deck Crews are directly involved in implementing the ship's navigation and port operation-related EE measures. In contrast, the Chief Engineer and Engine Crews are directly involved in all ships’ propulsion, power generation, and management-related operational EE measures to implement onboard ships. Since the ashore managers supervise the ship's Master and Chief Engineer, they have reasonable control in every aspect of the fleet's energy efficiency operations, from navigation to port operations and ship's propulsion to power generation and management.