A practical guide to shipping companies preparing CII reporting
Are you overwhelmed by the fact that you soon need to submit a CII report? In this practical guide, we introduce 7 simple steps to improve your CII rating. We will also include real life CII calculations and an example of a submitted CII report.
Step 1: Understand Correction Factors
The yearly Attained CII for a ship is calculated as emissions of CO2 divided by transport work performed. To determine transport work, you can use deadweight for most cargo type ships and gross tonnage for passenger ships and ro-ro vehicle carriers. The CO2 emissions are calculated by multiplying the annual fuel consumption with the CO2 emissions factor for that specific fuel type.
Familiarize yourself with various correction factors such as:
- Voyage adjustments for safe navigation
- Sailing in ice conditions
- Ship-to-ship operations for tankers
- Boiler fuel consumption for the purpose of cargo heating and discharge
- Electrical power consumption
Examples of electrical power consumption include refrigerated containers, cargo cooling and reliquefication systems on gas carriers or LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) Carriers, and discharge pumps on tankers. Use these factors to accurately calculate and improve your ship’s CII rating.
Correction factor example
As an example, we have seen how a tanker ship in the first half of 2023 has used cargo heating and discharge as a correction factor to go from CII rating E to D.
Step 2: Explore Alternative Fuels
Consider using low and zero-carbon fuels to decarbonize shipping and improve your CII rating. Produced from renewable sources, such as biomass or captured carbon dioxide, Methanol offers a promising pathway to carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative shipping. Methanol emits fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases compared to traditional marine fuels:
Biofuels look like one of the most promising alternatives due to their availability and compatibility with standard vessels. Biofuel needs no engine modifications and offers the advantage of low sulfur content, which meets the 2020 requirements and can eliminate exhaust gas cleaning systems.
Ships can run on a low-carbon fuel to get a higher rating, such as:
- Biofuels
- Synthetic liquid diesel fuels
- Methanol
- Ethanol
- Dimethyl Ether (DME)
- Propane/butane (LPG)
- Methane (LNG)
- Ethane
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen
Step 3: Embrace New Technologies
To tackle evolving infrastructure and fuel availability challenges, you can embrace flexible, multi-fuel engine technology.
Multi-fuel engines will reduce fuel consumption and emissions significantly. It allows the ship to operate on one type of engine and ensures the engines always run at optimal load. If supported by batteries, a shore power connection and renewable power sources like wind and solar can be implemented.
