Electric propulsion is not always the answer for small vessels, according to researcher

As shipping faces growing pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions, new doctoral research from Tallinn University of Technology shows that the cleanest solution for small vessels is not one-size-fits-all. Instead, the best decarbonization pathway depends on route length, electricity supply, port infrastructure, vessel duty cycle and investment costs. The thesis focuses on vessels below 5,000 gross tonnage (GT), a segment that includes ferries, pilot boats and regional service vessels that have received far less attention than large ocean-going vessels.