Review of current regulations, available technologies, and future trends in the green shipping industry
Mina Tadros, L. Ventura, C. Guedes Soares
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive review of the current regulations and the various technologies as well as the decision support methods for each technology the maritime industry considers to ensure the fleet's sustainability. It covers the period between 2010 and 2022, emphasizing the last four years. It shows the impact of each technology on the reduction of ship resistance and the energy required on board, affecting the amount of fuel consumption and avoiding the transportation of harmful species around the world to achieve a smooth transition towards green shipping by improving the fleet's energy efficiency and achieving the goals of the 2050 plan. The paper covers five main topics: hull design, propulsion systems, new clean fuels and treatment systems, power systems and ship operation; and each topic has different technologies included. This study's findings contribute to mapping the scientific knowledge of each technology in the maritime field, identifying relevant topic areas, visualising the links between the topics, and recognising research gaps and opportunities. This review helps to present holistic approaches in future research supporting the cooperation between maritime industry stakeholders to provide more realistic solutions toward sustainability.