UASC is devoted to providing efficient and cost effective transport services to all of its customers while maintaining the highest standards of safety, health and environmental protection.
Through the use of its resources, optimised operations and waste management, UASC strives toward enhancing the environment in which it operates. Environmental protection policies have been put in place in order to maintain safe and pollution free operating practices and provide a clean and healthy working environment.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
UASC progressively develops additional ways in which to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission throughout its fleet vessel management. Various projects and methods have been developed to achieve this:
- Installation of Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) systems which use waste heat for propulsion and in turn reduce the vessels fuel consumption to reduce CO2 emissions.
- Application of silicon paints on all vessels assists to significantly reduce the drag coefficient properties of each vessel through the water.Regular maintenance of hull and propellers increases the vessel performance by reducing hull fouling and propeller friction to save on energy.
- As a part of its operational strategies, UASC has implemented the Weather Routing system used for Voyage Planning which results in the identification of the most fuel efficient routes for vessels and promotes further fuel saving.
- Carrying a minimum safe ballast and maintaining a proper trim ensures the optimum amount of fuel is always utilised.
- Installation of Fuel Homogenizers for the main engine results in combustion improvement leading to an additional reduction in emissions.
- CO2: for A7 vessels= 90g/teu/km (Before slow steaming CO2 was 105g/teu/km)
- CO2 : for A4 vessels= 102g/teu/km (Before slow steaming CO2 was 107g/teu/km)
- NOx: for A7 vessels= 15.83g/kw/hr
- NOx: for A4 vessels = 17.89g/kw/hr (Installation of slide type fuel valves to reduce NOx. Expected reduction 20% to 30%).
- SOx: Depends on the sulphur content of the fuel in use and is variable (All vessels are in compliance with international and local regulations).
Steps Toward Environmental Sustainabilty
- Incorporation of slow steaming processes in order to reduce energy consumption and emit less CO2.
- Installation of slow steaming kits to improve combustion during slow steaming resulting in less PM and a cleaner environment.
- Use of low sulfur (0.1%) diesel oil in all areas possible, including SECA and EU ports results in less SOx.
- Use of low sulfur fuel in SECA will allow for lower SOx emissions.
- Maximum utilisation of shore facilities to dispose of the sludge generated during fuel purification as well as avoiding incineration on board to further reduce CO2 and other harmful emissions.
- Utilisation of silicon based paint which reduces friction resulting in lowered fuel consumption levels and no biocides.
- Phasing out of old fleet and inducting more environment friendly new vessels.
- Introducing electronically controlled engines within the fleet enables better combustion and increases the vessels compatibility for slow steaming.
- Replacement of old hydraulic operated equipment on fleet vessels with electrically driven machinery, which reduces oil pollution.
- Retrofitting of slide type fuel valves in old fleet to reduce Nox and PM.
- Installation of heat recovery systems in new vessels reduces energy consumption.
- Utilisation of Elysators for cooling water and incorporating boiler water treatments instead of using harmful chemicals.
- Installation of air seals for all stern tubes in new vessels restricts oil pollution via the stern tube seal.
- Changes to environment friendly refrigerant with zero Ozone depletion factor.
- Use of Homogenizer for optimum fuel utilization.
- Use of modern technology incinerators which reduce harmful emissions.
- Certification of vessels for enhanced environmental protection over and above the existing Marpol regulations.
