Shippingefficiency.Org: 25,000+ Visitors In First Month
Carbon War Room, a not-for-profit organisation targeting market-driven solutions to climate change, announced today the launch of a series of online and live seminars for shipping industry participants on its Shippingefficiency.org online service – launched at the UN climate change talks in December. By the end of 2010, the site had logged over 25,000 visitors, while over 1,500 users had registered to make full use of the online service.
The seminars aim to respond to questions from the industry about the design of the service, and its use. The first seminar will take place online on 14 January 2011 at 12pm Central European time and is open to all interested stakeholders. Parties can register for this at any time before the webinar. A schedule of further seminars – both physical and virtual – will be distributed shortly. The seminars aim to respond to questions from the industry about the design of the service, and its use.
Beginning
“We’re delighted by the response from the industry, but this is just the beginning”, said Peter Boyd, COO of Carbon War Room. The aim of the new online data hub is to enable market participants to more easily factor in vessel efficiency to their decision making. By employing methodology and data already available (such as overlaying the European Union’s ‘A-G’ rating on the International Maritime Organisation’s Energy Efficiency Design Index), shippingefficiency.org provides a commercially-focussed tool, operating independently to, and ahead of, the regulatory pathway.
Substantial Work
Boyd added: “We spent time beforehand talking to various shipping-related stakeholders, and easy, free access to information on vessel efficiency is what they said they most needed to secure the triple win in shipping – reduced fuel burn, costs, and carbon emissions.” Crucial to the philosophy behind the site, the efficiency ratings already recognise the differences in size and functionality of different ships. Boyd added “A container ship is as different from a ferry as a truck from a motorcycle, which is why we only compare vessels with their peers – not just within their class, but also only among ships of similar weight.” Boyd continued that the team recognises however that there is still substantial work to do on the EEDI. Carbon War Room and partners will update the site as the IMO improves the methodology; and as owners and operators move to having their vessel ratings certified by flag states or classification societies.
Open Letter
Since the launch of Shippingefficiency.org, a further ten companies have signed an open letter calling on IMO delegates to rapidly adopt the Energy Efficiency Design Index, and to apply it to the existing fleet; including ship operator Heidmar Inc. and environmental consultants Enecore Carbon. This brings the total number of signatories to thirty.