Climate change raises a series of challenges but also creates new opportunities. Mastering energy use does not only bring down emissions, it also fosters innovations. More than 80% of barge owners would be ready to replace their existing ship engines for new, more fuel efficient ones leading to 15% energy savings. And to safeguard an environmental friendlier performance, nowadays there is a wide range of options if only the EU introduces low-sulphur fuel for the inland shipping market.

How to master energy use
New propulsion systems, lighter ships and improved hydrodynamics currently available on the market bring energy savings of between 10 and 40%. The changes are still modest, but ongoing research will help to introduce radically reduced costs into the market.

Advising Tempomaat (ATM) and River Information Services (RIS) are electronic systems enabling an optimal cruising speed and an optimal operation of the vessel dependent on the conditions on the river leading to a further energy efficiency of 10 to 15%. This technology will gradually evolve to a fully automatic pilot enhancing advanced voyage planning.

How to bring down emissions
Exhaust after treatment equipment is conceived to limit the harmful effect of the combustion of fossil fuels

 Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology reduces NOx emissions by 95%
 Diesel particulate filter or PM trap cuts the emission of ultra-fine particles by 90%

This emission reduction technology only works optimally when using ultra-low sulphur fuel, which is not commonly available on the market due to lacking EU regulation.