Life Cycle Assessment tool for ships
With support from the Danish Maritime Fund, Danish Shipping and Re-flow has developed a vessels a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool for ships.
Project Summary
The maritime sector is undergoing a transition where transparency on emissions has become essential. Traditional measures such as operational efficiency and fuel switching only address part of a vessel’s climate footprint. To fully understand and reduce impacts, assessments must cover the entire vessel life cycle - from raw materials and construction to decades of operation and end of life.
The project developed a digital LCA tool that enables shipowners to quantify and compare the full climate impact of vessels, from construction to end-of-life. Built on international standards and shaped by stakeholder input, the tool supports decision-making, scenario analysis and regulatory reporting.
Key Outcomes
- Scientific basis: A generalised vessel LCA model was created using peer-reviewed data and international standards.
- Scenario modelling: Enabled comparison of design, fuel and operational choices across vessel types.
- Regulatory alignment: Supported IMO measures, CSRD and Scope 1–3 GHG reporting.
- Stakeholder engagement: Shipowners and operators shaped functionalities through structured input and collaboration.
- Practical digital tool: Delivered a user-friendly, scalable solution integrating technical rigour with real-world needs.
Member access
The tool is freely available for members of Danish Shipping and can be accessed via this link: www.re-flow.dk