Page 10: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

9 11

By the

Numbers

Inland Waterways Decarbonization

For many years, ocean shipping has been for among global industries focused on decarbonization, but emissions reduction initiatives in U.S. inland waterways shipping are not as far along. And while it’s well known that inland waterway barge trans- port, through economy of scale, is vastly cleaner than road, rail and air options, there are still green opportunities on the table.

ABS in September published a report prepared for the classi? cation society by Vanderbilt University, “Decarboniza- tion of the Inland Waterway Sector in the United States”, identifying challenges and opportunities that will be faced in moving toward a carbon neutral and zero-carbon future on the inland waterways, while also including prospects for furthering the sustainability advantages that barge transport has relative to other surface transportation modes.

GHG emissions modal comparison. Commercial Aviation does not include passenger air traf? c. Ships and Boats category may include some inland waterway. Data for inland waterways was calculated as part of this project; data for other modes was obtained from EPA’s annual GHG inventory.

Fuel intensity by transportation mode. GHG intensity by mode.

Source: Texas Transportation Institute (2017) Source: Texas Transportation Institute (2017) 10 | MN November 2021