Review of Ship Energy Efficiency

[Abstract] Energy efficiency has become increasingly relevant in the current economic and environmental situations. This paper aims to create a map of the state of the art of the energy efficiency on the marine sector, both in the scale of the individual ships and the entire industry. The first point of interest will be an examination of the regulatory framework of the shipping sector in regards of energy efficiency. Next there are the procedures implemented on ships with the aim of diminishing their consumption and emissions. These measures range from modifications of the design to the operational practices. Following that will be the potential advances that the industry could implement on a bigger scale to enhance the efficiency of the whole sector. Finally, an overview of the main obstacles for the implementation of these measures will be examined. While the current standards are a temporary solution and several of the most prominent improvements require further investigation, the continuous effort increases the potential of this sector for optimization. These factors emphasize the utility of this review as an introduction to help other studies have a solid understanding of the state of the art of energy efficiency in the naval industry.