The Development of a Transdisciplinary Framework to Overcome Energy Efficiency Barriers in Shipbuilding: A Case Study for an Iranian Shipyard

Abstract

Through a systematic literature review and a holistic perspective, the study proposes a conceptual transdisciplinary framework to overcome energy efficiency barriers during the shipbuilding phase. The process of the proposed transdisciplinary framework consists of five steps of “goal formation”, “system analyzing”, “scenario construction”, “multi-criteria decision making assessment” and “strategy building” to identify and rank the energy efficiency barriers during ship construction based on decision makers’ priorities. The framework categorizes the barriers into five disciplines—operations, policies and regulations, technology and innovation, the human elements, and economics—and the framework is applied to an Iranian shipyard. The results show that the economic barriers have the greatest impact, while the human barriers have the least impact on the shipyard’s energy performance. Due to the generalized structure of the framework, it categorizes not only energy efficiency barriers according to the importance and priorities of stakeholders in the shipbuilding industry, but can also be applied to other phases of the ship life cycle and even to other industries. By applying the framework, decision-makers can make rational and optimal decisions to be able to invest in energy efficiency measures based on their priorities.

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

“…IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) [23] classified barriers to energy efficiency as technological innovation, prices, finance, trade and environment, market structure, institutional framework, information provision and social, cultural and behavioral norms and standards, and Fleiter et al [24] classified barriers to energy efficiency as twelve different characteristics. In addition, empirical studies such as Thollander and Ottson [14], Cagno and Trianni [25], Dixon et al [26], Nehler et al [27], Lane et al [28] and Vakili et al [13] have identified and classified barriers to energy efficiency in various industries and in different categories.…”

“…In order to improve energy efficiency in the maritime cluster, a policy in the marine energy sector is crucial, and it is invoked to justify the policy in the maritime energy sector. To reduce the carbon footprint of the maritime sector, a holistic systemic policy and a broader vision (life-cycle perspective) must be taken into account [13].…”

“…Vakili et al [13] designed and developed a transdisciplinary framework for identifying barriers in the construction phase of the ship life cycle and successfully applied it in an Iranian shipyard. The authors of the research proposed further studies to recognize the barriers to improving energy efficiency in other phases of the ship life cycle to overcome the barriers to energy efficiency in the maritime industry within the life cycle perspective [13].…”

“…Vakili et al [13] designed and developed a transdisciplinary framework for identifying barriers in the construction phase of the ship life cycle and successfully applied it in an Iranian shipyard. The authors of the research proposed further studies to recognize the barriers to improving energy efficiency in other phases of the ship life cycle to overcome the barriers to energy efficiency in the maritime industry within the life cycle perspective [13]. This will help industry decision makers, policy makers and regulators to have a holistic view on how to overcome the barriers to energy efficiency in the industry, and the approach is expected to accelerate the carbon reduction in the industry.…”

“…In light of the above, the study has taken into account the principles of the framework proposed by Vakili et al [13], which has a holistic, systematic and interdisciplinary character. The framework was applied to an Iranian shipping company and identified the interrelationships and interactions between different types of barriers during the operational phase of the vessels, both on board the vessels and in the offices.…”