Assessment Task 2: Critical Evaluation of Decarbonization Strategies in Maritime Shipping

Module Details

Module Code: MAR506

Module Title: Sustainable Maritime Operations and Decarbonisation

Level: 7 (MSc)

University: Solent University (Warsash Maritime School), with alignment to UK maritime programmes at University of Plymouth and University of Strathclyde

Assessment Type: Individual research report (100% weighting)

Word Count: 4,000 words (±10%, excluding references and appendices)

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically appraise UK and international regulations driving maritime decarbonisation, including the Clean Maritime Plan and IMO GHG Strategy.
2. Evaluate the technical and operational viability of alternative fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen in shipping contexts.
3. Analyse implementation barriers and opportunities with emphasis on UK ports and fleet operations.
4. Develop evidence-based recommendations for sustainable practices aligned with net-zero targets.

Task Description

Produce a critical research report that evaluates flexible approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in maritime shipping through the adoption of alternative fuels, with particular focus on ammonia and hydrogen. The report must examine engineering challenges, infrastructure requirements, safety considerations, economic implications, and regulatory frameworks. Prioritise UK maritime industry examples, including operations at major ports like Southampton, Liverpool, and the North Sea offshore sector, alongside compliance with UK Maritime 2050 Strategy, the Clean Maritime Plan, and updates to MARPOL Annex VI and SOLAS conventions.

Incorporate case studies of UK or UK-aligned shipping companies transitioning to these fuels, assess scalability for different vessel types (container, tanker, bulk), and discuss environmental sustainability benefits versus practical risks such as fuel storage, bunkering logistics, and supply chain development in the UK context.

Requirements and Guidelines

• Use formal academic structure: executive summary (300 words max), introduction, literature review, critical analysis, case studies, recommendations, conclusion.
• Harvard referencing style required; minimum 20 sources, with at least 15 published 2018-2026 from peer-reviewed journals or authoritative reports.
• Include relevant diagrams, tables, or charts in appendices where helpful for illustrating fuel properties or emission reductions.
• Submission: PDF via Turnitin, Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, justified text.
• Emphasise UK-specific policy implementation, port infrastructure readiness, and workforce implications in 75% of the analysis.

Marking Rubric

Ammonia serves as a viable zero-carbon fuel option when generated through renewable electrolysis processes, enabling substantial cuts in shipping emissions without compromising engine performance in dual-fuel configurations. Hydrogen offers high gravimetric energy density suitable for fuel cells but demands advances in cryogenic storage and distribution networks to overcome volumetric limitations in vessel design. UK ports such as Southampton are positioned to lead adoption by investing in dedicated bunkering facilities that align with national decarbonisation targets. Integration of these fuels supports compliance with evolving IMO energy efficiency indices while addressing local supply chain resilience. Mallouppas et al. (2022) demonstrate through comparative analysis that ammonia and hydrogen pathways could achieve over 80% GHG reductions in international shipping fleets.

 References (Harvard Format)

1. Fan, L., Wang, Y., & Zhang, X. (2021). Decarbonization of Maritime Transport: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel? Sustainability, 13(1), 237. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010237
2. Mallouppas, G., Yfantis, E. A., Weiss, J., & Kontovas, C. A. (2022). The use of alternative fuels for maritime decarbonization: A review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1082453. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1082453
3. Yang, Z., et al. (2021). Decarbonisation of shipping: A state of the art survey for 2000-2020. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. Available at: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15705/
4. Public response study authors (2023). Public response to decarbonisation through alternative shipping fuels. Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03499-0
5. Additional 2024 review: Decarbonization Potential of Alternative Fuels in Container Shipping. Environments, MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/12/9/306 (2025 projection aligned)