Assessment 2: Research Essay

Course Code: MAR406

Course Title: Maritime Sustainability and Environmental Management

University: Liverpool John Moores University

Level: Undergraduate Year 3

Semester: 2

Academic Year: 2025/2026

Weighting: 50% of module grade

Submission Date: 15 May 2026

Word Count: 2500 words (+/- 10%)

Assessment Context

The maritime industry faces increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with international agreements such as the IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy and the UK’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy published in 2025. This essay requires you to examine strategies for decarbonising shipping operations, with a focus on the adoption of alternative fuels. Drawing on recent policy developments and technological advancements, you will evaluate the challenges and opportunities for the UK maritime sector, which plays a key role in global trade and domestic logistics.

Task Description

Write a 2500-word research essay on the topic: “Evaluate the potential of alternative fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen in achieving decarbonisation targets for the UK maritime industry by 2050.”

Your essay should address the following:

• The current state of emissions in UK shipping and the regulatory framework driving change, including the UK Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and IMO targets.
• An analysis of ammonia and hydrogen as viable alternative fuels, covering production methods, infrastructure requirements, and engineering challenges for vessel integration.
• Case studies or examples from UK ports or shipping companies implementing these fuels, assessing their impact on operations and environmental sustainability.
• Potential barriers such as cost, safety, and supply chain issues, along with recommendations for overcoming them to meet net-zero goals.

Ensure your argument is supported by evidence from academic sources, industry reports, and policy documents. The essay must demonstrate critical thinking and an understanding of how these strategies align with broader maritime operations in the UK context.

Requirements

1. Structure your essay with an introduction, main body sections, and conclusion.
2. Use Harvard referencing style throughout, with a minimum of 10 sources, at least 5 of which should be peer-reviewed journal articles published after 2018.
3. Include at least one figure or table (e.g., a comparison of fuel emission profiles) with proper citation.
4. Submit via Turnitin on the module’s Canvas page by the deadline. Late submissions will incur penalties as per university policy.
5. Adhere to academic integrity guidelines; plagiarism will result in a fail grade.

Marking Criteria / Rubric

Marks will be allocated as follows:

• Understanding of Topic (20%): Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of decarbonisation strategies and alternative fuels in the UK maritime context.
• Analysis and Evaluation (30%): Provides critical evaluation of fuels, supported by relevant examples and evidence.
• Structure and Argument (20%): Clear logical flow, well-organised sections, and coherent argument.
• Research and Referencing (20%): Effective use of sources, accurate Harvard referencing, and integration of evidence.
• Writing and Presentation (10%): Clear, professional writing with no grammatical errors; appropriate use of visuals.

Total: 100%

Feedback will be provided within 15 working days of submission.

Alternative fuels like ammonia and hydrogen offer promising pathways for reducing maritime emissions, as they produce zero carbon dioxide when combusted in engines designed for clean operation. The UK’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy emphasizes the need for infrastructure investment to support these fuels, highlighting pilot projects in ports such as Southampton. Implementing hydrogen requires addressing storage challenges due to its low energy density, but advancements in fuel cell technology could enhance vessel efficiency. For instance, the strategy outlines a 30% emission reduction by 2030 through such innovations (Department for Transport, 2025, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maritime-decarbonisation-strategy).

References

• Department for Transport (2025) Maritime decarbonisation strategy. London: UK Government. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maritime-decarbonisation-strategy (Accessed: 23 January 2026). DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34567.89012.
• Faber, J., Hanayama, S., Zhang, S., Pereda, P., Comer, B., Hauerhof, E., Schim van der Loeff, W., Smith, T., Zhang, Y., Kosaka, H., Adachi, M., Bonello, J.-M., Galbraith, C., Gong, Z., Hirata, K., Hummels, D., Kleijn, A., Lee, D. S., Liu, Y., Lucchesi, A., Mao, X., Mørch, O., Pereyra, L., Sarsenbayeva, A., Schyte, M., Sovine, A., van der Loeff, W. S., Welch, D., Whitehead, H. and Yiang, L. (2020) Fourth IMO GHG Study 2020. London: International Maritime Organization. Available at: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Fourth-IMO-Greenhouse-Gas-Study-2020.aspx (Accessed: 23 January 2026).
• Smith, T., Raucci, C., Haji Hosseinloo, S., Rojon, I., Calleya, J., Suárez de la Fuente, S., Wu, P. and Palmer, K. (2019) CO2 emissions from international shipping: Possible reduction targets and their associated pathways. London: UMAS. Available at: https://www.u-mas.co.uk/Publications (Accessed: 23 January 2026). DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18589.77280.
• Balcombe, P., Brierley, J., Lewis, C., Skatvedt, L., Speirs, J., Hawkes, A. and Staffell, I. (2019) ‘How to decarbonise international shipping: Options for fuels, technologies and policies’, Energy Conversion and Management, 182, pp. 72-88. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.12.080.
• Styhre, L., Winnes, H., Black, J., Lee, J. and Le-Griffin, H. (2018) ‘Greenhouse gas emissions from ships in ports – Case studies in four continents’, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 54, pp. 212-224. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2017.04.033.