Svitzer increasing low carbon fuel intake to achieve emission targets

Global towage operator Svitzer, has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2040 with a focus on increasing the use of low carbon fuels particularly methanol and biofuel.

PHOTO: Exhaust gases flow from the funnel of a cruise ship. Getty Images

Svitzer, a subsidiary of A.P Moller-Maersk, aims for a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of its fleet by 2030, followed by carbon neutrality in 2040, in line with Maersk’s target.

Svitzer will evaluate the emission progress against a 2020 baseline, when the carbon dioxide emission from its fleet was around 280,000 mt.

The towage operator intends to optimise fuel mix across its fleet through increased uptake of low-carbon biofuels and explore the long-term potential use of methanol for towage.

Svitzer intends to retrofit and renew its fleet to use low carbon fuels solutions.

The company’s EcoTow project, which saw its fleet in London, Felixstowe, and Southampton switch to low carbon biofuels, is currently being replicated across ports in the UK and to its global operations.

Maersk has invested in methanol as a future fuel, the company has placed an order of 12 methanol-powered ships and plans to deploy them in two years.