Real time Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator: Simulation research from the perspective of life cycle assessment

CO₂ emissions during ship building, maintenance, and scrapping are not be involved when defining Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI). However, these CO₂ emissions can only show its value during operation phase of ship life. In order to evaluate the effect of CO₂ emissions during ship building, maintenance, and scrapping on energy efficiency, a real time EEOI definition was put forward, a life cycle assessment (LCA) calculation framework was established, and a ship propulsion model with main diesel engine was built. A bulker carrier YUMING was taken as the case ship. CO₂ emissions during ship building, maintenance, and scrapping were calculated. Main engine revolution and real time EEOI value with other parameters were obtained by simulating in different ship draft. The results show that life cycle assessment result will explicitly increase the real time EEOI value especially in lower engine speed and lower ship draft. The engine revolution at the lowest EEOI value will increase explicitly by life cycle assessment result. It means that the lower limit of ship speed should increase during slow steaming. Therefore, slow steaming may bring less environmental benefit if the life cycle assessment result is involved.