A Conceptual Transdisciplinary Framework to Overcome Energy Efficiency Barriers in Ship Operation Cycles to Meet IMO’s Initial Green House Gas Strategy Goals: Case Study for an Iranian Shipping Company

Abstract

Through a systematic, holistic and transdisciplinary approach and by proposing five phases of “goal information”, “system analyzing”, “scenario construction”, “multi-criteria assessment” and “strategy building”, the study offers a process for recognizing and prioritizing energy-efficient barriers in the ship’s operational cycle according to decision-makers’ concerns. The study utilized the proposed conceptual transdisciplinary framework for overcoming energy efficiency barriers in ship operating cycles. The framework categorizes the barriers in the operational cycle into five disciplines, i.e., operations, policy and regulations, technology and innovation, human element and economics, and applies the framework to an Iranian shipping company. The results show that the economic discipline has the highest priority, and the human discipline has the least importance for the company’s decision makers. In addition, “Adverse selection” (operational discipline), “policy implementation” (policy and regulatory discipline), “split incentives” (economic discipline), “limited access to capital” (economic discipline) and “imperfect budgeting” were the main barriers to energy efficiency in the company.

From “Fairly Good” to “Optimal” Energy Efficiency Practices within the Moroccan Manufacturing Sector: Are Financial Resources Sufficient?

“…Conversely, a low level of financial slack would reduce companies' capability of adopting energy efficiency practices, which would make energy issues of lesser importance. In addition, a high level of financial slack decreases the intensity of energy efficiency barriers (Vakili et al., 2022). We suggest that financial slack moderates the negative relationship between companies' satisficing and energy efficiency practices.…”

Assessing the macroeconomic and social impacts of slow steaming in shipping: a literature review on small island developing states and least developed countries

“…Taking into account the above and changes in the strategic behavior of market participants, further adjustment mechanisms, such as slow steaming, have been shown to lead to different outcomes and uncertainty, especially for SIDS, LDCs and developing countries. However, it would be useful to use historical data on the application of slow steaming, especially after the 2008 financial crisis, and consider a holistic, systematic, and transdisciplinary approach to assess the direct and indirect impacts of slow steaming on all maritime cluster stakeholders (Vakili et al 2022a ), especially for SIDS and LDCs.…”

“…The ambition of this strategy is to reduce average carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions per transport work by 40% by 2030, and by 70% by 2050 compared to 2008. The total annual GHG emissions related to international shipping are aimed to be reduced by 50% by 2050, and to reach zero before the end of the century (Vakili et al 2022a , b , c ).…”

“…Although slow steaming is not equivalent to the goal-based measure, the target-based measure can lead to speed reductions. For existing vessels, the most obvious operational measure that can be used to meet the operational goal-based objectives is a reduction in speed, and a similar situation applies to technical measures, since EEXI or power reduction would lead to a reduction in speed, and the owner, operator or charterer of the vessel is the relevant decision-maker (Vakili et al 2022a ).…”

Energy Audit as an Instrument to Tackle Internal Barriers to Energy Efficiency: Lessons from Moroccan Industrial Firms

“…Several energy efficiency barriers arise from firms, such as competing interests within firms and other priorities [33], the lack of information regarding energy efficiency technologies [34], and low technical competence within firms [35].…”