Greener Ships on the Horizon: As the tide of fuel costs and exhaust emissions rise, so does interest in alternative propulsion technologies

摘要

According to petroleum giant BP, cargo ships produce about 5% of the world's greenhouse gases, twice the amount produced by aircraft. A 2003 Bluewater Network report concluded that commuter passenger ferries in New York Harbor produce 20 to 200 times more pollution per passenger mile compared to other forms of passenger transportation, including cars, diesel buses and trains. Advanced vessel propulsion technologies including hybrid, solar and wind power, alternative fuels and fuel cells, as well as the use of fossil fuels, could help reduce pollution and greenhouse gases.