A recent study commissioned by the Panama Canal found that
the VSR program also fosters significant emissions reductions. The study
analyzed speed, position and heading data from vessels’ automatic
identification systems (AIS) between 2017 and 2019, and found that
vessels lowered their greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollutant gas emissions by
an average of 75% during the seasonal TSS measures, depending on the
type, size, and fuel of the vessel. This amounts to over 15,000 tons of
carbon dioxide (CO2).
The TSS program demonstrates how small changes in speed can have a
disproportionate impact on protecting migrating cetaceans from
collisions, in addition to reducing GHG emissions. Broader studies have
shown, for example, that doubling the speed of a vessel from 10 to 20
knots not only raises the risk of vessel-whale collisions, but can also
increase the vessel’s engine load, fuel use and emissions by
approximately eight times, under special conditions.
“This is an industry-wide effort, and we cannot achieve any of our
environmental goals, let alone reach the IMO’s emissions reductions
targets, without a long-term partnership with our customers,” said Alexis
Rodriguez, Environmental Specialist. “We take a sincere role in being the
most efficient and environmentally conscious all-water route.”
The Canal is not alone in its efforts – TSS and VSR programs are used
worldwide to reduce collision between ships and marine life. In 2002, the
Bay of Fundy and the east coast of Canada also adopted the IMO
regulation, to name a few.
From the 20-year-old restriction on the use of heavy maneuvering fuel and
the discharge of any type of solid or liquid waste to its waters to the
most recent industry-wide efforts to reduce GHG
emissions per transport work by at least 40% by 2030, the Panama Canal
remains committed to approaching environmental sustainability as a
business imperative, providing the most efficient and safe routes for its
customers.
Since opening in 1914, the Panama Canal has directly contributed to the reduction
of 800 million tons of CO2 emissions. Its environmental initiatives have
grown in recent years thanks in part to the Expanded Canal, which allows
shippers to consolidate shipments on larger vessels, thus saving time,
fuel and emissions.
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