Assessment of environmental impacts of conventional container shipping based on the entropy approach

Abstract

Container shipping plays a crucial role in global trades but is also a major contributor to energy consumption and environmental pollution due to its reliance on fossil fuels. This study focuses on analyzing the pollution potential associated with entropy generation in container ships operating on the traditional Suez route, applying thermodynamic principles. Fuel consumption data were utilized to assess energy efficiency while an entropy-based approach provides deeper insights into the environmental impacts. Results have revealed a substantial inefficiency, with fuel consumption exceeding unit power demand by 77% approximately and 74.84% of the ships’ overall environmental pollution. Furthermore, our analysis has indicated that existing ships produce between 2.53 and 3.24 times more pollution compared to reversible processes. These findings highlight the critical need for transitioning towards decarbonization within the shipping industry. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions, paving the way for a more sustainable future in container shipping.