Tn Shipping, as in every sector of business, the world belongs to the innovators. Arguably, the most important innovations have been made over the past two centuries. I have in mind steam power, propellers, iron hulls, steel hulls, tankers, diesel power, bulkers, containerisation, radio, aluminium hulls, waterjets, LNG tankers, LNG fuel, GPS, satcom, fibreglass, podded propulsion systems, modern paints, and, I am sure, many others. All have allowed the industry to make enormous strides in its capabilities and its economics. While the change from sail to coal and then oil power was not beneficial environmentally, it enabled enormous economic and social advances. More recently, attention has been focused on making internal combustion engines more environmentally friendly. Significant innovations have led to worthwhile improvements there also.
展开▼
