Goal:
Today shipping by sea is the most common and used method of shipping. It is also a pollution problem that a lot of the general public ignores.
Shipping exist in different forms, this research has focus on bulk carriers, container ships and tankers. The research also consists of basic technologies that could provide a solution to lowering the amount of toxic that today’s transportation “contributes”.
Containers:
In 2005 the US alone handled over 45 million imports and exports. New York and New Jersey handled 5.1 million of them.[1]
Today the two most used containers is 20 feet (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) and 40 feet (2 x Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). TEU.[2]
ISO made containers standard sizes back in 1961.
In 2001 the amount of containers shipped a year is over 100 million. 10.000 of those get lost at sea by flying overboard.[3]
Container ships:
Currently worldwide the number of containerships reaches 4700 units.
The diagram above indicates shipping companies and the amount of containers they imported and exported from the United States. [4] The number one carrier is a Danish company based in Copenhagen.
Tankers:
“As of 2005, the United States Maritime Administration's statistics count 4,024 tankers … world wide”[5]
Current action:
A study by Energy Futures predicts that by 2020 the container business is going to be doubled and they gives suggestions to where the situation should be improved. Their research explains the need for alternative fuels and port clean up.
“On March 26, 2010, the IMO officially designated waters off North American coasts as an area in which stringent international emission standards will apply to ships. These standards will dramatically reduce air pollution from ships and deliver substantial air quality and public health benefits that extend hundreds of miles inland.
In 2020, EPA expects emissions from ships operating in the designated area to be reduced by 320,000 tons for NOx, 90,000 tons for PM2.5, and 920,000 tons for SOx, which is 23 percent, 74 percent, and 86 percent, respectively, below predicted levels in 2020 absent the ECA.
In practice, implementation of the ECA means that ships entering the designated area would need to use compliant fuel for the duration of their voyage that is within that area, including time in port as well as voyages whose routes pass through the area without calling on a port. The quality of fuel that complies with the ECA standard will change over time. From the effective date in 2012 until 2015, fuel used by all vessels operating in designated areas cannot exceed 1.0 percent sulfur (10,000 ppm). Beginning in 2015, fuel used by vessels operating in these areas cannot exceed 0.1 percent sulfur (1,000 ppm). Beginning in 2016, NOx aftertreatment requirements become applicable.”[6]
Possible green technologies:
Konarka
- Company started in 2001. Has a factory in Massachusetts.
- Contact:
- http://www.konarka.com/index.php/contact/thank-you/
Konarka is recognized throughout the world as a leader in Organic Photovoltaic technology – a 3rd generation solar technology that is rapidly emerging to compete with silicon based 1st and 2nd generation solar technologies.[7] Their product is thin, lightweight and flexible.
Nanosolar
- Small company from 2002.
- Located in San Jose, California.
Nanosolar produces solar cells that are lightweight, bendable, easily interconnected, easily adjusted in size, and capable of supporting up to 25 Amps of current per cell. These are each attributes that lend themselves to creating products with unique advantages and benefits and delivering application-specific customer value.[8]
[1] U.S. Container Ports and Air Pollution: A Perfect Storm.
[2] http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/containers
[3] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/06/0619_seacargo.html
[4] How container ships changed the world. By Brian J. Cudahy
[5] Office of Data and Economic Analysis (July 2006). World Merchant Fleet 2001–2005.pdf
[6] http://www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm
[7] http://www.konarka.com/index.php/technology/our-technology/
[8] http://www.nanosolar.com/technology/technology-platform
Philip - Good subject and can work well for our thesis theme. Good initial research. - Rick
ReplyDeleteMin,
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting topic. There are so many opportunities to innovate in this area, from adding solar collectors to the ships (although I don't think you can put a big roof over the whole ship, because it would interfere with the cranes that move the containers around. Or some system for locating them if they "fly" overboard. Or, you could come up with a system for emergency housing inside containers, and you could imagine a container vessel switched over to a floating refugee camp....And, there is always the question of how to keep terrorists and smugglers from using containers for their purposes.
I think you should learn everything about these ships, the containers, the loaders, the way that containers can be converted to trucks or trains (or planes?). It would be interesting to document the ways that criminals have outfitted the interior of containers to house people for long journeys.
I hope you do something really futuristic and creative.
steven