So how much fossil fuel does a Canadian patrol frigate burn while sailing?

Some years ago I was amazed how much fuel a Canadian patrol frigate (ship) burned on a regular basis while sailing. I was so amazed that I pursued a thesis on the life cycle assessment of biofuels wanting to find out different options instead of extreme fossil fuel consumption.

Canadian patrol frigate off the coast of British Columbia Canada

Unexpectedly, as is often with research, my thesis found that as long as we continue to use fossil fuel and continue to streamline and perfect the processes used to produce fossil fuels, producing anything other than fossil fuel or fossil fuel based products would be more fossil fuel intensive (more greenhouse gas intensive) and less what we want. Check out my thesis in the pdf below:

an_assessment_of_microalgal_biodiesel_with_abe_using_life_cycle_assessment_methodology_c_dignan_apr_2018.pdf
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Products like biodegradable dog poop bags, cotton clothing, recycled gold from computer parts made into engagement rings, algal biofuel, bamboo toothbrushes etc. would all be more fossil fuel intensive to produce than their counterparts (e.g. plastic bags and plastic toothbrushes) because they aren't made with fossil fuel as part of their makeup (like polyester is made with plastic, which are made from fossil fuels) and the processes used to make them hasn't been optimized.

​So, how much fossil fuel does a 4,770 tonne (metric) Canadian patrol frigate burn while sailing anyway?

Answer: Sailing continuously, up to 300 tonnes of fossil fuel a week.
​Let's pick the high side for our quick comparison purposes to put this number (300) into perspective.

Comparison scenario:
Ship fossil fuel consumption
versus
Fossil fuel consumption of the equivalent number of Canadians

This 300 tonnes of fossil fuel burned by a Canadian patrol frigate in a week includes transportation and power generation that supports all amenities used to sustain human life on the ship (e.g. lighting, heating, cooling, fresh water and sewage treatment etc.). However, the majority of this 300 tonnes of fuel is used for transportation. Maybe 5% is used for everything else. So that's about 285 tonnes a week used for transportation.

Sailors!

​But there are 210 people on the ship (sailors). So for comparison purposes, how much fuel does 210 people normally use to move around on a weekly basis? (assuming that all these people use personal vehicles). 

Let's say each person travels 50km total per weekday to and from work 5 days a week. Some people travel more and some might travel less or work from home. The math (see below at end for math) says 3.5 tonnes per week total. Divide 285 tonnes (ship fossil fuel use in a week) with 3.5 tonnes and you get about 80 percent.

​Therefore, a ship with its complement of people is about 80% transportation-wise more fuel intensive than your average group of Canadian people not on a ship. This makes sense considering ship engines are moving 4770 tonnes of ship through the water at speeds of 22 to 56km/hr (equivalent to 12-30 knots).

Canadian patrol frigate sailing off the coast of British Columbia Canada

Since I've also lived in a few places in the last 15 years, I've had someone ask me, "is it less fuel intensive per capita to fly 210 people in a plane across the country as opposed to having these same people drive the same distance individually?" So many factors to consider! My first question is "are the drivers allowed to drive electric?" ;) 

​I say, before I tackle this question, there's nothing like a hot latte, soft jazz and a toasty fireplace after being outside playing in the snow with family. I'm not flying or driving anywhere this Christmas!

​Happy almost Christmas Everyone!
Fingers crossed for a white one!

Merry Christmas! I organized a Christmas light display of my ship one year

the math:

210ppl x 50km/day x 5 days/week = 52,500km/ week
Average consumption of a Canadian vehicle is 8.9L/100km
Therefore 8.9L/100km x 52,500km/week = 4,673L/week
4,673 L/week / 1,000L/m3 = 4.67 m3/week
4.67m3/week x 750kg/m3 = 3,504.8kg/week = 3.5tonnes

Assuming density of fuel is 750kg/m3 and 1 tonne is 1000kg