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Red Sea crisis forces operators to use more container ships, contributing to emission issues

The shipping industry's promise to limit its carbon footprint might suffer an obstacle as the present Red Sea crisis triggers it to use more vessels and take longer paths to ensure the smooth sailing of global maritime trade.

Iranian-backed Houthi militants' attacks on vessels passing through the southern Red Sea have actually choked trade through the Suez Canal, driving lots of container shipping companies to add 10-14 days to the trips in between Asia and Europe and add more vessels.

The disturbance has raised doubts about the sector's ability to stay on track to satisfy the International Maritime Organization's required for a 20% decrease by 2030. The shipping market accounts for almost 3% of international co2 emissions.

The prolonged travel times demand adding a minimum of 2 more ships to keep weekly Asia-Europe services per operator, further increasing the total emissions from the fleet for the exact same quantity of freight, stated Yiannis Parganas, head of shipbroker Intermodal's research department.

The re-routing, which is causing higher fuel intake, is projected to result in a 42% increase in emissions per ship for a. standard Asia-North Europe weekly liner service, Parganas stated.

Emissions from container ships struck 231 million loads in 2023,. touching pre-pandemic levels.

Niels Rasmussen, chief shipping expert at ship-owner. association BIMCO, said the longer path has actually required an. 8-10% increase in container ship usage, compared to a year. earlier, causing an equivalent rise in emissions.

Container ship emissions could rise by as much as 11% to 257. million tons in 2024 if disruptions consisting of in the Red Sea and. Panama Canal continue, according to consultancy company. AlixPartners.

The Red Sea crisis has actually also put strategies of some operators to. replace aging fleets with more recent more fuel-efficient ships on the. backburner.

The numbers (freight rates) are very healthy and those who. intend to scrap their ship have actually postponed their decision, stated. Symeon Pariaros, chief administrative officer of ship-owner. Euroseas.

(source: Reuters)