Slow steaming, the practice of operating maritime vessels at reduced speeds, has been recognized as a significant measure to reduce environmental impact in the shipping industry. By reducing a ship’s speed, slow steaming leads to a decrease in fuel consumption, which in turn substantially lowers emissions. A 10% reduction in fleet average speed can result in a 19% reduction of CO2 emissions. It is therefore often considered an effective short-term strategy for eco-friendly shipping, as the fuel savings and emission reductions are considerable despite slightly extended transit times. As a consequence, slow steaming helps ships meet the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirements, which are part of the short-term measures for decarbonization of the shipping industry.
Nevertheless, current models are still lacking (by misrepresenting engine loads at lower speeds), and emissions other than CO2 are not yet taken into account. In this work, the student builds on existing work and optimises estimates for NOx emissions, probably through life cycle analysis.