Befäl och Bränsleval - Kan befälen påverka bränslevalet ombord?

Abstract

The global shipping strive to leave a smaller environmental footprint and become a more efficient industry. As a step toward a cleaner shipping sector the sulfur emissions from ships is reduced within sulfur emission control areas (SECAs). In SECAs the maximum sulfur content allowed in marine fuels is (0.1% sulfur from 2015. It is also possible to use a scrubber on board which limits the emissions to the equivalent level. Since there has been great focus on what fuels to use, and how they affect the environment, this study investigate how the marine engineering officers' situation changes depending on which fuels that is used. The information about how different fuel choices affect the marine engineering officers work environment is so far limited. The study shows how the work environment is changes on board and if the marine engineering officers can actively participate in the selection of fuels on board to create a better working situation. In order to answer the research questions, marine engineering officers from different vessels using different fuels were interviewed. This information was complemented with data from previously published reports and scientific papers. The conclusion of the study is that the marine engineering officers have a very limited possibility to influence the choice of fuel on board. Furthermore results from the interviews also suggest that low-sulfur fuel oils are not as easily manageable as the traditional heavy fuel oil. While other fuels such as liquefied natural gas is easier to manage and treat onboard for the marine officers.