Donal Hickey: Steering the shipping industry towards low-carbon fuels

A rower from Cork Boat Club on the Lee as the container cargo vessel SAMSKIP Express makes its way upriver on the River Lee to the Port of Cork container terminal at Tivoli. Picture: Larry Cummins

New UCC-led research aims to steer the Irish shipping industry away from traditional fuels towards low-carbon alternatives. The pioneering ShipFuel initiative could also have international implications.

Sea-going traffic transports 90% of Ireland’s traded goods — that figure is similar for the world at large. Shipping accounts for 3% of global CO2 emissions. Experts say the maritime industry has been lagging behind in its efforts to move away from fossil fuels.