Summary
Clear Seas commissioned Dillon Consulting and ABL to undertake a study to understand what environmental impact reduction technologies are available for ships and how to select them.
Overview
As global trade continues to grow, marine shipping remains a vital component of Canada’s economy. However, it also contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, underwater noise, and water pollution, affecting sensitive ecosystems. Clear Seas’ latest research, Ship Design and Technologies to Reduce Environmental Impact, explores how ship design innovations and technological advancements can help reduce the environmental footprint of marine shipping.
This study identifies existing and emerging technologies, investigates how shipowners and designers make decisions about adopting these innovations, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in advancing towards low- and zero-impact shipping.
About the Study
Purpose
The study examines non-fuel-based ship technologies, such as hull design, propulsion systems, outfitting, and operational strategies, that reduce the environmental impacts of ships throughout their lifecycle. Unlike alternative fuels, these technologies can be implemented on existing vessels as well as new builds, offering near- and medium-term pathways toward more sustainable operations.
Objectives
- Catalogue existing and emerging technologies that reduce ship-related environmental impacts.
- Explore how naval architects, shipbuilders, and shipowners make decisions about implementing these technologies.
- Identify opportunities to improve decision-making and encourage wider adoption of impact-reduction measures.
This work contributes to Clear Seas’ broader Pathways to Zero-Impact Shipping initiative, conducted in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Research Approach
The project team, led by Dillon Consulting and ABL Consulting with academic support from UBC, combined several research methods:
- Technology Review – A comprehensive review of literature and industry data to develop an inventory of ship impact-reduction technologies.
- Expert Consultation – Engagement with naval architects, engineers, and decarbonization specialists to assess technological readiness and performance.
- Interviews & Case Studies – Semi-structured interviews with ship designers, builders, and owners to understand real-world decision-making dynamics.
- Validation – Findings were validated through feedback from industry and academic experts to ensure robustness and relevance.
Key Findings
1. Diverse Technologies, Focused Benefits
Researchers identified 28 environmental impact-reduction technologies in five main categories:
- Hydrodynamic improvements: Optimized hull forms, propellers, and rudders that reduce drag and fuel use.
- Aerodynamic improvements: Streamlined superstructures that lower wind resistance.
- Outfitting improvements: Energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and advanced ballast water treatment.
- Propulsion improvements: Hybrid-electric systems, waste heat recovery, onboard carbon capture, and wind-assist propulsion.
- Operational improvements: Route optimization, just-in-time port arrivals, and cold ironing.
Many of these technologies target GHG emissions and air pollution, while others reduce underwater noise, waste discharges, and invasive species transfer.
2. Decision-Making Still Driven by Cost and Regulation
The study found that cost and compliance remain the primary drivers for adopting new technologies. Environmental considerations are often secondary unless they directly relate to meeting current regulations or improving efficiency. Formal decision support tools are rarely used, even though they can help assess trade-offs, manage risk, and evaluate long-term environmental performance.
3. Opportunities for Greater Uptake
To increase adoption of impact-reduction technologies, the research highlights the importance of:
- Integrating environmental performance early in the vessel design process.
- Developing incentives and financing mechanisms to offset upfront costs.
- Building familiarity and confidence among shipowners and crews.
- Strengthening decision-support frameworks that can account for uncertainty and multiple objectives.
Why It Matters
Marine shipping is essential for global trade but also a major contributor to environmental change. Understanding and advancing ship technologies beyond fuels can lead to real-world emissions reductions, protect marine ecosystems, and support Canada’s transition to sustainable marine transportation.
This research provides a foundation for developing practical tools that will help decision-makers choose the most effective strategies for reducing the environmental impacts of marine shipping.
The Latest
Research Team
Clara Kaufmann
Research Manager, Clear Seas
Stefano Scarpa
Director – Maritime Decarbonization, ABL Consulting
Carlos Pichel Montoya
Senior Naval Architect, ABL Consulting
Emily Davis
Project Manager, Dillon Consulting
Dave Creber
Manager, Environmental Management, Dillon Consulting
Simone Philpot
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of British Columbia
Amanda Giang
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia