Berg Propulsion: How Retrofits Can Contribute to Decarbonization Goals

Rather than pinning its decarbonization hopes on future tonnage, shipping can pursue its goals today by retrofitting available technology to existing, conventionally fueled vessels, explains David Sakandelidze, Business Manager for Energy and Efficiency, Berg Propulsion.

The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target for net-zero emissions from ships by around 2050 is now only 24 years away—less than the average lifetime of a commercial ship. Today, 112,000 active vessels emit approximately 1.05 billion metric tons of combined annual emissions. To understand how fast the intervening years to 2050 will pass, it is worth considering that meeting IMO's goal will require global shipping to cut its emissions by about 43.75 million tons every year.

To support and meaningfully contribute to our common goal, Berg Propulsion defined its own shipping segment to achieve fuel savings. This segment consists of ships built for high speed but due to market demand are operating at least 20% slower than design speed.

Such operating, while offering economical (and environmental) benefits in form of reduced fuel consumption, exposes inefficiencies of the propulsion power plant system which were designed for a different optimal operation point. The trade-off lies in reduced engine and propulsion efficiency, in turn causing a ship's