Unifeeder, part of DP World’s Marine Services Division, and MPC Container Ships (MPC) have formed a new strategic collaboration to make joint investments into Energy Efficiency Technology (EET).
The partnership will see the parties unite to increase decarbonisation and efficiency in maritime transport, driving forward Unifeeder’s own target to cut its emissions by 47% by 2030 and support customers to accelerate their Scope 3 reductions. Under the agreement, Unifeeder and MPC will jointly invest in retrofitting advanced EET solutions. The investments will be shared between the charterer, Unifeeder, and MPC. Subsequent cost savings resulting from these energy efficiency enhancements will be shared between the two parties, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship, lowering fuel costs for the charterer and increasing the value of the asset for the owner.
A key aspect of this collaboration is the involvement of a trusted independent third party, Vessel Performance Solutions (VPS), which will monitor the installation of technical solutions to measure the efficiency savings from the installed EET using real time data.
Unifeeder Director Group Decarbonisation, Christian Hoepfner, said: “We are excited to embark on this innovative partnership with MPC Container Ships. At Unifeeder, minimising fuel consumption and enhancing operational efficiency is a priority. This collaboration not only aligns with our goals for decarbonisation but also sets a precedent for the industry to overcome traditional split incentive barriers. By jointly investing in a bundle of Energy Efficiency Technologies and sharing the resulting benefits, we are paving the way for a more sustainable future in maritime transport.”
Unifeeder and MPC’s joint investments will focus on several solutions including the installation of variable frequency drives to adjust the outputs of high consumption parts to suit the specific need at the specific moment and a filtration system to purify lube oil. All together, these are expected to cut emissions by over 10%.
MPC MD Philipp Niesing said: “This agreement with Unifeeder is a testament to our commitment to collaborative decarbonisation and efficiency enhancements. Investments in our existing fleet is a cornerstone of our US$ 400m fleet renewal investment programme as this will immediately contribute to reducing emissions. By overcoming the traditional split incentive structure, we hope to drive positive change in the industry, and we are proud to partner with Unifeeder in this undertaking.”
The new initiative joins several other Unifeeder sustainability schemes, which focus on increasing fuel efficiency, optimising vessel operations and replacing older vessels with methanol-powered ships that are due to enter operation by 2026. Unifeeder is making a series of different efficiency-enhancing modifications and technologies in its chartered fleet of ships, including silicone coating, optimisation of power consumers and increased use of biofuels.
Image: Unifeeder and MPC join to implement emissions-saving measures on chartered fleet (source: Unifeeder)
