Abstract
Today, alternative fuels are seen as a critical area of sustainable technological growth in maritime transport. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations body for maritime issues and other international bodies are in the process of amending and updating the regulations applicable to the shipping industry. Greece is ready to enter the era of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electricity as marine fuels, as Eastern Mediterranean projects are heading towards adopting these alternative fuels. This study aims to explore the intention of the Greek stakeholders in accepting and using LNG and electricity as alternative fuels. The research objectives are to identify, analyse and evaluate the determinants that influence the intention to accept, diffuse and use alternative fuels, LNG and electricity for marine propulsion, and develop, construct and validate a hybrid model that can be used for future study. This research will clarify possible challenges or barriers to the implementation of technology by stakeholders and contribute to a deeper understanding of the green shipping network. It will also highlight the role of key players in the diffusion phase of technological innovation and the technology itself and its characteristics. Moreover, this research will suggest a unified model using the expansive Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in conjunction with the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and external variables affecting LNG and electricity 1) to investigate the intent of implementing the use of such alternative fuels and 2) to inform policymakers concerning sustainable shipping.
Highlights
Alternative fuels have received considerable attention in recent years
Respondents demographics profile A sample of 50 people, where the percentage of men and women account for 90% and 10%, respectively, reflects how male-dominated the shipping industry is since only 5 women completed the survey questionnaire
The positive impact on the Perceived Utility (PU) is reflected in the fact that participants feel that they should share the effects of the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and electricity, that the majority have seen the ‘benefits’ of the two alternative fuels and, more significantly, it is reflected in the progress made by other shipping professionals
Summary
Alternative fuel penetration in shipping is largely motivated by the need to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions (Paris Agreement) and to comply with the more stringent sulfur emission requirements of Annex VI to the MARPOL treaty of the IMO. The MARPOL treaty establishes PM (2021) 6:9 limits and limits on the NOx emissions from marine diesel engines to address the requirements for preventing air pollution from ships. These regulations mean that an estimated 70% of the fuels currently used by the sector need to be modified or changed (European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO), n.d.). Shipping has the lowest environmental footprint in the transport sector, considering the large share of shipping in the global transport industry, the gradual integration of alternative fuels by shipping would have a substantially positive environmental impact
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