© Serena Tang, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 via Flicr.com
In brief
News from the Arctic (2024.04)
Providing “green” power to ships at port
POWER BUNKERS
A new European Union (EU) project aims to supply offshore electrical power to ships docked or moored at ports so they don’t need to use their generators, which usually run on diesel. Launched in February 2024, the BlueBARGE project is developing an “energy barge” that can provide green energy to vessels and support the maritime industry’s electrification and decarbonization.
The €11 million project is being led by a consortium of 14 companies and organizations from 10 European countries. The partners are working together to develop containerized green energy supply modules—or “power bunkers”—that are scalable, adaptable and flexible, with the aim of having them ready for commercialization by 2030.
The BlueBARGE project is exploring technical alternatives and configurations to address key challenges to providing clean offshore energy to ships in ports, including challenges related to power supply integration and connecting the energy barge to ships, ports and local power grids. The project is also looking at operational safety and regulatory compliance. The barge is slated to limit polluting emissions, with targets that align with the EU’s and International Maritime Organization’s goals to cut emissions from the shipping sector in half by 2050.
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Could melting sea ice pose obstacles for ships?
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
It has long been believed that rapidly melting sea ice would create shorter routes through the Canadian Arctic, saving shipping operators money. But a new Canadian study suggests otherwise. The research shows that the rapid sea ice melt happening in the Arctic Ocean might actually be making some shipping routes less accessible.
The researchers analyzed changes to the lengths of shipping seasons along individual sections of the Northwest Passage from 2007 to 2021—some of the warmest years on record. Although the number of voyages in the Canadian Arctic has quadrupled since 1990—and certain areas are seeing longer shipping seasons—the study found that the number of weeks during which ships can safely travel through the entire Northwest Passage is decreasing.
The study found that although certain areas are increasingly ice-free, centuries-old, thick sea ice is being released and flowing south. This is creating choke points that are impassible for ships, making places like the Northwest Passage more hazardous and unpredictable.
A shortening of the shipping season could have serious ramifications for people in the Canadian Arctic who rely on shipping for supplies. Flying supplies in instead could dramatically increase the cost of food and other goods in many Arctic communities.
Dust particles may be playing a role in Arctic warming
CLOUD TROUBLE
A study published recently in the journal npj Climate and Atmospheric Science suggests that dust may play a more significant role in influencing Arctic warming than was previously thought. Researchers found that Arctic dust emissions, which have increased by 20 per cent over the past 40 years, influence the formation of clouds and their impact on the region’s climate.
The findings highlight the complex role of dust in Arctic clouds. Dust particles serve as “seeds” for ice nucleation (ice formation in clouds), a process that affects clouds’ ability to reflect sunlight and trap heat—key factors in regulating the Arctic’s climate. But as Arctic warming exposes more ground, leading to more dust emissions, these particles are becoming less efficient at aiding ice formation. This counterbalancing feedback loop raises questions about whether current climate models accurately represent the role of Arctic dust.
The study shows that higher dust levels reduce clouds’ ability to reflect sunlight, weakening the sensitivity of ice nucleation to warming by 40 per cent compared to scenarios that don’t consider higher dust emissions.
The researchers emphasize the need for more investigation into how other particles, such as black carbon and organic emissions, interact with clouds in the Arctic. As warming continues, dust emissions and their impacts on ice nucleation are likely to increase, making the feedback loops more pronounced.
© Canon / Brutus Östling / WWF-Sweden
Using AI to plan routes, save fuel and cut emissions
WEATHER ROUTING
According to Riviera Maritime, a provider of information to the global maritime, offshore and energy industries, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning are revolutionizing weather routing for shipping. This could reduce fuel consumption by up to 17 per cent, depending on ship type and route conditions.
Weather routing—the practice of planning and optimizing a ship’s route based on weather conditions—is particularly critical in the Arctic, where unpredictable storms and dynamic ice conditions present challenges. By recommending routes with favourable winds and currents, weather routing can help ships not only avoid danger, but reduce fuel consumption, leading to lower emissions and cost savings.
Traditionally, this technique has relied on satellite data, weather and ocean forecasts, and software to simulate route scenarios. AI-based systems enhance this process by analyzing vast datasets, including ship-specific information (like dimensions, reports and logs) and voyage data (like speed, trim, weather and location). The systems can predict a ship’s response to conditions and model fuel consumption to identify the most efficient routes.
As a next step, integrating port authorities into the process could bring additional sustainability benefits. If vessel arrivals were better timed with port readiness, ships could spend less time at anchor, reducing fuel use and emissions.
By WWF Global Arctic Programme
