Moving towards decarbonization (2)

The Maritime Industry Authority is doing its best to respond to calls to protect our already fragile environment, specifically, to contribute to achieving the target to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent in 2030, as we have discussed in our previous column.

Spearheading the implementation of the Paris Agreement in the maritime industry, the MARINA, together with other relevant government agencies, participated in the Collaboration on the National Roadmap Study on Decarbonizing Pathways for Freight Transport in the Philippines hosted by the Department of Transportation in April 2022.

This is a new initiative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in connection with Sustainable Infrastructure for Low-Carbon Climate Resilient Development in Asia, mainly aimed at transitioning the Philippines, and other countries in Southeast and Central Asia, toward cleaner energy, transport, and industrial systems.

MARINA presented in this convention the National Strategic Action Plan titled "Green Maritime Philippine: Protect and Conserve". This NSAP serves as the roadmap for the implementation of environment-oriented laws and standards for the maritime industry.

To effect this, MARINA has recalibrated its 10-Year Maritime Industry Development Plan to include Program 10 which focuses on environmental protection.

In support of this plan, MARINA published Memorandum Circulars SR-2020-01 on Ship Recycling, MC No. SR-2020-04 on Anti-Fouling Systems, MC No. SR-2020-05 on Ballast Water Management, and MC No. SR-2020-06 on MARPOL Annex VI, which limits the main air pollutants contained in ships' exhaust gas, including sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides, and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances through the use of compliant fuel oil for ships.

Moreover, on 17 May 2022, the Flag Administration issued Marina Advisory 2022-33 on Regulations on Energy Efficiency for Ships (Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index and Carbon Intensity Indicator and IMO's Strategy in Reducing Greenhouse Gases Emission) as part of its growing share in reducing country's GHG emissions in the coming years.

For its part, the Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries, Inc., whose member ferry owners/operators are engaged in short-distance voyages, has started to pursue programs aligned with initiatives under MIDP Program 10 of MARINA, particularly in mitigating GHG emissions in the country.

Part and parcel of PACIWFI's advocacy to promote modernization in domestic shipping, the association is at the forefront of promoting decarbonization in the maritime industry. It has recently embarked on a program for the decarbonization of short-distance ferries in the Philippines as one of its top priorities.

Our design team, Global Marine Consulting Group – Cochin, India is now in the process of completing the basic design for an Electric Propulsion System for a Short Distance Ferry. We are still contemplating of having either an all-electric or a hybrid system.

This is still at the early stage of development, but a promising venture is in collaboration with one of PACIWFI's active members, Metro Ferry-Cebu since decarbonization is part of the company's business strategy.

PACIWFI intends to build the prototype under Metro Ferry and eventually re-fleet all with an alternative propulsion system. It is PACIWFI's desire that the involvement of Metro Ferry will serve as an industry benchmark in promoting the decarbonization of the maritime industry in the Philippines.

The Association's partner, IMP Shipyard and Port Services, will take part as a vital component in our decarbonization program for the design and construction of the prototype under the supervision of technical experts from GMCG, the Electric Propulsion System supplier together with Filipino engineers as system integrators, and several members of the civil society organization Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance Inc. (PE2), who are the best in their fields.

The collaboration of PACIWFI, Metro Ferry, IMP Shipyard, and PE2 will pave the way for the decarbonization of short-distance ferries and contribution, in our own little way, to the achievement of the Philippines' target of 75% emission reduction by 2030.

Barring any serious challenge, PACIWFI hopes the program will start to take off next year.