New System To Be Established for Rating of Ship Fuel Efficiency
A new international system for rating the fuel efficiency of ocean-going vessels will be established under Japanese leadership, it has been announced. A draft amendment to the relevant treaty will be adopted at an international conference in June, and the system is expected to be introduced in 2023.
The fuel efficiency rating system will be applied to large ocean-going vessels such as container ships, oil tankers, and cruise ships. Once a year, ship owners and operators will submit fuel efficiency data to the government where the ship is registered and rate it on a five-point scale (A-E). CO2 emissions are converted from the distance traveled, the weight of the ship, and the amount of fuel consumed and compared. The lowest E, or three consecutive D’s, will require the owner to submit an improvement plan to the government where the ship is registered. They are required to add devices to improve fuel efficiency or reduce the speed at which they sail. If the ship cannot be improved, it will not be allowed to sail.