PNNL

Abstract

The shipping industry, particularly containerized cargo transport, plays a vital role in global trade, but it is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints and achieve sustainability targets, the U.S. maritime sector is seeking innovative solutions to lower its environmental impact. Optimizing fuel usage, improving operational efficiencies, and adopting alternative fuels are essential strategies to decarbonize maritime transport. However, these complex challenges require sophisticated tools for simulating and analyzing different fuel and routing strategies. This project focuses on developing an advanced decision-support tool to optimize fuel deployment and intermodal freight routing for domestic container shipping in the U.S., aiming to reduce GHG emissions and improve operational efficiency.