Posted: January 17th, 2024

Best Practices for Integrating Sustainability into New Ship Design and Construction Processes

Best Practices for Integrating Sustainability into New Ship Design and Construction Processes

Sustainability is a key concept in the maritime industry, as it aims to reduce the environmental and social impacts of shipping activities. Sustainability can be integrated into new ship design and construction processes by following some best practices, such as:

– Conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the ship, which evaluates the environmental impacts of the ship from cradle to grave, including materials, energy, emissions, waste, and disposal. LCA can help identify the most critical stages and aspects of the ship’s life cycle, and provide guidance for improving its environmental performance.
– Applying the principles of eco-design, which is a systematic approach to designing products and services that minimize the environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. Eco-design can help reduce the use of resources, energy, and emissions, as well as enhance the functionality, quality, and aesthetics of the ship. Some examples of eco-design strategies are: using renewable or recycled materials, optimizing the shape and size of the ship, incorporating energy-efficient technologies and systems, and facilitating maintenance and recycling.
– Implementing green procurement practices, which involve selecting suppliers and contractors that have high standards of environmental and social responsibility. Green procurement can help ensure that the materials and services used in the ship design and construction process are sourced from ethical and sustainable sources, and that they comply with relevant regulations and standards. Some examples of green procurement criteria are: environmental management systems, certifications, audits, life cycle costing, and social performance indicators.
– Engaging stakeholders in the ship design and construction process, which includes involving customers, regulators, employees, communities, and other relevant parties in the decision-making and feedback processes. Stakeholder engagement can help improve the communication, collaboration, and trust among the different actors involved in the ship project, as well as increase the acceptance and satisfaction of the final product. Some examples of stakeholder engagement methods are: surveys, interviews, workshops, focus groups, and participatory design.

By following these best practices, ship designers and constructors can create ships that are more sustainable, efficient, and competitive in the market. Moreover, they can contribute to the global goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, protecting marine ecosystems, and enhancing social welfare.

References:

– Boulougouris E., Papanikolaou A., Sklavenitis S., 2017. Sustainable ship design. Ocean Engineering 139: 85-98.
– Ehlers S., Baldauf M., 2018. Sustainable shipping: A cross-disciplinary view on the implementation status quo. homework help Journal of Cleaner Production 172: 252-266.
– Geng Y., Fu J., Sarkis J., Xue B., 2012. Towards a national circular economy indicator system in China: An evaluation and critical analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production 23: 216-224.
– ISO 14040:2006. Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework.
– ISO 14044:2006. Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines.
– UNEP 2009. Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products.

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