ABSTRACT
Shipping is indispensable for global trade and is one of the cheapest, most energy efficient, and the least emitting mode of transportation. The shipping industry is undergoing a transition which is driven by the aim to lower the cost of operations in the shipping sector. While many regulatory measures have been enforced by the International Maritime Organization to lower air emissions, many of these are implemented by incorporating measures for optimally using energy onboard ships. Energy efficiency design index and ship energy efficiency management plan are two such mechanisms which have been implemented in the past few years. There are many ways to optimize energy use onboard ships and these can broadly be divided into technical and design aspects and operational and maintenance factors. Assessment of these measures reveals that such improvements are cost effective and lead to enhanced profits in the long run while lowering emissions. It is expected that energy optimization and energy efficiency measures would further continue to drive the transition in the shipping sector to an environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and a low-cost option for transportation.
