Decarbonising Tasmanian domestic commercial vessels

In Tasmania, commercial vessels for passengers and freight, recreation, and aquaculture are operated with fossil fuels. Most of these vessels are small-sized and ageing. This suggests that operators will gradually replace those approaching retirement. Decarbonising Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV) operated in Tasmanian waters will support Australia’s national emissions reduction targets.

However, vessel operators face challenges when considering decarbonisation. These include compatibility of existing energy efficiency technologies with their small-scale vessels, which is a main characteristic of the majority of DCVs in Australia including Tasmania, alternative fuel availability, and operational issues such as fuel storage and bunkering.

This research project aims to assess the suitability of new fuel technologies for DCVs operated in Tasmanian waters and investigate alternative fuels supply chains available to support DCV operators’ adoption of technologies.

The focus and outcomes of the project aligns closely and contributes to the Tasmanian Government’s development of the Renewable Energy Services Hub (RESH) which has the objective of increasing renewable energy outputs and enabling a faster and efficient transition to renewables for Tasmanian businesses.

Participants

• Tasmanian Government Department of State Growth
• University of Tasmania

Project background

The Australian Government has legislated aims to assess the suitability of new fuel technologies for DCVs operated in Tasmanian Waters and investigate alternative fuels supply chains available to support DCV operators’ adoption of technologies. its objective to achieve a 43 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050 (Parliament Australia, 2022) to contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.

To achieve the goal, each State and Territory has stated their commitments. Although Tasmania achieved net zero in 2014, for further decarbonisation the State Government has not only committed to increasing renewable energy output (200% of 2020 demand by 2040) but also been working with industries such as agriculture and transport for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission (Tasmanian Government, 2024).

In Tasmania, transport accounted for 21.1% of Tasmania’s emissions in 2022. Although the main emissions are from road transport (98%), commercial vessels for passengers and freight, recreation, and aquaculture are operated with fossil fuels. Most of these vessels are small-sized and ageing. This suggests that operators will gradually replace those approaching retirement. Decarbonising DCVs operated in Tasmanian waters will support Australia’s national emissions reduction targets and contribute to the Australia domestic maritime industry and global shipping decarbonisation.

However, vessel operators face challenges when considering decarbonisation. These include compatibility of existing energy efficiency technologies with their small-scale vessels, which is a main characteristic of the majority of DCVs in Australia including Tasmania, alternative fuel availability, and operational issues such as fuel storage and bunkering. For example, when talking to an industry operator who would like to invest vessels with alternative fuels to replace their existing ones, uncertainty of fuel availability and infrastructure for bunkering are the main concerns for long-term investment.

>Uptake of new fuels and technology are critical to decarbonising maritime sectors. Tasmania has great potential for producing potential new fuels that provides great opportunity for accelerating decarbonisation of domestic maritime transport sectors. This project will provide decarbonisation pathways for DCVs operated in Tasmanian waters with scenarios of alternative energy source availability, which will help DCV operators make decisions in technology adoption and provide recommendations for where alternative fuel charging/bunkering stations should be located.

Project objectives

1. Identify the availability and capacity of alternative fuel supply chains to assist DCV operators’ decision making in decarbonisation.
2. Identify what the requirements are for ongoing maintenance and sustainment for alternative fuel DCV vessels.
3. Identify the factors required to develop decarbonisation pathways for DCVs operated in Tasmanian waters.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!