Charting a course to cut emissions

CalMac’s target to cut CO2 emissions by two per cent equates to some 1,800 tonnes, which is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 4,285,714 miles driven by an average passenger car, or 645 tonnes of waste sent to landfill.

Innovative, state-of-the-art fuel management systems have been fitted across the company’s entire large vessel fleet – the first ferry company in the UK to do so – as part of Project Ecoship, allowing both the master and chief engineer to make small adjustments in real time to reduce fuel consumption.

These minor tweaks, whilst not affecting the delivery of the timetable, have shown encouraging results with the company’s two per cent reduction target looking highly likely.

“We are finding some encouraging results,” said Drew Collier, CalMac’s Operations Director. “While it is too early to reveal any kind of scientifically concrete data, the initial figures we are seeing, as well as the anecdotal feedback from the teams on board, are optimistic.

“Our target is to make a two per cent reduction in our release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At the moment, we are confident that we are on track to achieve this.

“Whilst the effect of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and pollutants on air quality are well known, what is perhaps less known is that carbon dioxide is linked to acidification within our seas.

“We are very keen to ensure that our ferries help to preserve Scotland’s marine environment in so far as possible and we are determined to work towards better and better solutions.”

Installed at a cost of £450k, the 10 fuel management systems, produced by Royston enginei, will, if the targets are met, pay for themselves within a single year.

Pictured is Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay MSP hearing about the company’s efforts to play its role in greenhouse gas emissions reduction. He joined Chief Officer Stuart Griffin on the bridge of Isle of Arran ferry, MV Caledonian Isles.