In 2024, we carried out Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions measurements in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol across 59 locations in 17 countries. Based on this assessment, %2 of our Emissions is coming from our offices & buildings and maritime transport made up 98% of our total emissions. Moving forward, our emission reduction targets will focus primarily on improvement initiatives within our vessel fleet.
Clean Cargo and Smart Freight Centre
Arkas Line has been the first and only member from Türkiye in the Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) since 2013. This global initiative, managed by the Smart Freight Center, includes 18 shipping companies representing 85% of the world’s container transportation and over 85 global customers and forwarders. Its mission is to reduce GHG emissions in container transport, fostering collaboration to reach the “2050 Net Zero” target.
In 2024, according to the results of Clean Cargo Working Group results, of which we have been a member since 2013, we successfully reduced our CO₂ emissions by 3.4% compared to the previous year, and by 27.9% compared to 2011.
Energy Efficiency and Operational Excellence
Since January 2020, all Arkas Line vessels have transitioned to Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Ultra-Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO), achieving an 82.8% reduction in sulphur emissions. Our greenhouse gas emission reductions are driven by energy management principles, including:
Also, in 2023, we established the Operational Excellence (OpEx) department to advance our decarbonization goals and uphold regulatory compliance. The OpEx team monitors vessel energy efficiency, intervening to enhance performance and reduce emissions while aligning with international and EU standards. Their initiatives include vessel performance analysis, route and fuel optimization, and digitalizing operations across our fleet and supply chain. Additionally, OpEx manages emission taxes, explores new technologies, and oversees EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) accounts, with support from the Digital Transformation Directorate. Through these strategic actions, the OpEx unit is key to our decarbonization and operational excellence.
Strengthening Arkas Fleet with Eco-Design Vessels
In 2024, following the agreement with CSSC Huangpu Wenchong, one of China’s leading shipyards, we are expanding our fleet by ordering 4 additional 3,100 TEU container vessels, in addition to the 6 previously ordered 4,300 TEU vessels, bringing the total number of new vessels to 10. With this investment, we will increase our fleet size by 20% to 59 vessels and boost our total carrying capacity by 44% to 124,630 TEU.
These new vessels will contribute to both the growth and rejuvenation of our fleet while supporting our environmental sustainability goals. Built according to eco-design principles, these modern vessels will significantly reduce our carbon emissions due to advanced fuel efficiency technologies. In particular, the 6 Sub-Panamax vessels will be the largest and most technologically advanced in our fleet.
IT Processes with Microsoft Cloud Applications
We are committed to reducing emissions not only in our physical operations but also in our digital processes. In 2023, Arkas achieved a 99.73% reduction in emissions from cloudbased workloads, equivalent to saving 389,080 km of car travel. Since transitioning to Microsoft Azure in 2019, carbon emissions from cloud services have decreased by an average of 10% annually, despite a 63% increase in workloads. From 2019 to 2023, we reduced our Carbon Intensity (the carbon emission rate from cloud workloads) by 58%. Investments in renewable energy at Microsoft data centres played a significant role in this reduction, highlighting Arkas’ strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
