By
Rebecca Gibson |
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) formally approved a sector-specific Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ro-ro cargo and ro-pax vessels on 17 May 2013 at its 65th session.
The modification will become effective in 2016 as an alternative to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ standard EEDI formula, which came into force in January 2013 for tankers, bulk carriers and container ships.
Although the standard EEDI was agreed by the MEPC in 2011, short sea operators objected to the fact that it did not address the sector’s specialised power requirements and varying ship types. The operators were granted a two-year extension to develop a solution focused on optimising vessel design, rather than reducing design speed.
Sweden, Germany, the European shipbuilders association CESA and Interferry collaborated to develop sustainable ro-ro and ro-pax measures, while various flag states managed work on other short sea segments.
“It is highly positive that a relatively small sector of the global shipping industry has been able to come together and provide the detailed technical expertise needed to demonstrate a feasible way forward,” said Johan Roos, Interferry’s executive director of EU and IMO affairs.
Under the new EEDI, fuel efficiency will be required to improve by five per cent over existing designs from 2016, by at least 20 per cent from 2020 and by a minimum of 30 per cent from 2030.
“Future ro-ro and ro-pax designs will have to be extremely innovative and advanced to meet these strict reduction requirements,” said Roos. “However, the MEPC 65 outcome is the best way to further improve the design and energy efficiency of new ferries while allowing them to remain competitive.”