Green maritime technologies

Considering the staggering percentages of world trade vessels transport (80%), it is remarkable to note that shipping is already the most environmentally friendly mode of transport and that emissions emitted from ships are small (3%). Operational pollution has been reduced to a negligible amount. MARPOL 73/78 is the most important set of international rules dealing with the environment and the mitigation of ships pollution, has dealt with certain issues. However, there have also been considerable improvements in the efficiency of engines, ship hull designs, propulsion, leading to a decrease of emissions and increase of fuel efficiency.

The environmental footprint of shipping has been significantly improved through inputs from the marine equipment industry, which adopts a holistic approach when looking at the maritime sector. The equipment suppliers are a valued contributor and innovator within the maritime cluster.

The shipbuilding sector encompasses the shipyards and the marine equipment manufacturers including service and knowledge providers. The European marine equipment industry is the global leader in propulsion, cargo handling, communication, automation and environmental systems.

What is Marine Equipment?

The marine equipment sector comprises of all products and services necessary for the operation, building, conversion and maintenance of ships (seagoing and inland waterways). This includes technical services in the field of engineering, installation and commissioning, and lifecycle management of ships. The value of the products, services and systems on board a vessel can exceed 70% (85% for cruise ships) of the value of a ship.

The production ranges from fabrication of steel and other basic materials to the development and supply of engines and propulsion systems, cargo handling systems, general machinery and associated equipment, environmental and safety systems, electronic equipment incorporating sophisticated control systems, advanced telecommunications equipment and IT. Thus the marine equipment industry supports the whole marine value chain and stakeholders: from the port infrastructure and operation to the ship/shore interface, shipbuilding and ship maintenance.

Marine Equipment Industries’ Environmental Objectives

A large part of the improvements in the environmental footprint of shipping is achieved through the efforts of the European marine equipment industry.

A major challenge for the industry today is to ‘transfer technology’ from laboratories to ships, in order to reduce harmful emissions and obtain the benefit to wider society. Investments in upgrading older ships are necessary to make them ‘greener’ and more efficient also in view of setting a benchmark for future new-buildings.

A short term objective for the marine equipment sector is to be able to improve energy efficiency of ships by around 30%. In the medium to long term it has been estimated that a ship’s energy efficiency can be improved by 60%. These ambitious targets can, however, only be achieved by a continuous innovation process and through increased cooperation between the actors within the maritime cluster.

Development of Green Marine Equipment

Future regulation for the ‘greening’ of shipping is likely to be adopted at international level in the very near future. This could provide a benchmark for further innovation and ensures a high level of technical design resulting in better products.

The aim of the Green Ship Technology Book recently published by the European Marine Equipment Council is to provide the reader with a look at currently existing green technology and the impact it has on the environment from a neutral standpoint. Further developed it could provide a benchmark for the current capabilities of technology and if integrated onboard vessels show what they could achieve above and beyond current regulatory requirements. If this technology could be integrated in today’s ships then they could become 15-20% greener and cleaner. If there is further demonstration of newly researched and developed technology then a 33%+ eco-friendliness could be achieved ultimately leading to the zero emissions ship in the not too distant future.

There are 6 issues that should be taken into consideration when talking about reducing the environmental impact of vessels:

1. Reduction of Gas Emissions (NOX, CO2, SOX, Soot, Smoke and Particulate Matter);

2. Ship Waste Disposal;

3. Bilge Water Treatment;

4. Black Waste Water Treatment;

5. Grey Waste Water Treatment;

6. Ballast Water Treatment.

From the outset, it is important to identify the main areas of focus for the marine equipment environmental strategy. Ships can interact with the environment in many different ways and in all the various stages of their relatively long lives and more can be done to make them more environmentally friendly through the various stages of a ships life in particular: Manufacture of Equipment; Enhanced Shipbuilding Process; Day to day operation of a vessel; Safety at Sea and decommissioning.

A short term objective for the marine equipment sector is to be able to improve energy efficiency in shipping by around 10- 15%. In the medium to long term it has been estimated that a ship’s energy efficiency could increase by approximately 20- 25%. These ambitious targets can, however, only be achieved through a continuous innovation process and increased cooperation between the actors within the supply chain. An effective strategy for the environment will only be effective if the maritime industry actors define together the priority areas of intervention with a view to align them with those of the regulators.

More information and a copy of the book can be downloaded at the EMEC Green area: http://www.emec.eu/green