Sea Freight CO₂ Emissions – Track Your Maritime Carbon Footprint with Confidence

By James Blackman

Sea freight is the unsung workhorse of global trade. It’s slower than air, cheaper than road (on a per tonne basis), and often considered the “greenest” way to move cargo. But “green” doesn’t mean “clean.”

With 80–90% of world trade moving by sea, maritime freight generates around 3% of global CO₂ emissions—more than most countries.

Yet many freight forwarders still rely on outdated Excel models or carrier assumptions to report shipping emissions.

The result? Inaccurate data, non-compliant reports, and missed opportunities.

Let’s dive into the real-world carbon impact of ocean freight—and how CocoonCarbon® gives you the tools to take control.

Why Maritime Emissions Are Often Underestimated

On a per tonne-km basis, sea freight can emit as little as 10g of CO₂—compared to 600g+ for air. That’s true efficiency. But:

Ocean freight distances are vast—often 10,000+ km
Ship capacities are massive—so poor utilisation skews per-container emissions
Fuel types like HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil) emit high sulphur and black carbon

Example:
A 40ft container from Shanghai to Southampton (19,000+ km round trip) can emit anywhere from 800 kg to 2 tonnes of CO₂, depending on vessel, fuel, and load factor.

The Data Problem in Maritime Carbon Reporting

Freight companies typically receive:

Incomplete data from carriers
CO₂ estimates based on TEU averages
No breakdown by route, vessel, or fuel

That won’t cut it under GHG Protocol Scope 3, ISO 14083, or EU ETS for shipping coming in 2026.

How CocoonCarbon® Brings Ocean Freight into Focus

CocoonCarbon® uses structured data inputs and industry-aligned models to calculate accurate, audit-ready CO₂ emissions for each shipment. Features include:

✅ Vessel-specific emissions models
✅ Routing logic with distance calculation
✅ Fuel-type emissions factors (HFO, VLSFO, LNG, HVO)
✅ Support for FCL, LCL, and reefers
✅ GHG Protocol & IMO aligned calculations

You can upload bill of lading data, plug in your TMS, or use our CSV templates to generate instant reports.

Why It’s Critical for Forwarders and Their Clients

Today’s cargo owners want:

Product-level CO₂ reporting
Lane-level sustainability benchmarking
Carbon transparency for ESG disclosures

If you can’t provide that, they’ll look elsewhere.

With CocoonCarbon®, you don’t just track emissions—you empower your clients with credible, actionable insights.

Maritime Doesn’t Mean Mystery

You can’t reduce what you don’t measure. With regulations tightening and clients demanding data, sea freight emissions reporting is no longer optional—it’s a differentiator.

🌊 Start tracking ocean freight emissions with CocoonCarbon®
📦 Unlock transparent, scalable CO₂ insights
📈 Help your clients ship smarter, cleaner, and with full carbon visibility