Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (January 2020)

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security and environmental sustainability • Providing leadership in formulating regulatory policy • Showcasing the reliability, ef? ciency and attractiveness of ferry transport • Promoting the industry’s economic and social value • Expanding membership to countries currently under-represented

These objectives maintain and extend Interferry’s de- cades-long development, which has evolved from U.S.- based networking origins in 1976 to an established role as the worldwide voice of the ferry community – exempli? ed by consultative status at the International Maritime Orga- nization (IMO). Our vision for taking the industry’s pro- ? le still higher is ambitious but entirely realistic, because it builds on the evidence of hugely encouraging advances in both developed and developing nations.

I truly believe that the industry has rarely if ever been in such good health. Most operators in the developed world are reporting year-on-year traf? c growth and, in many cas- es, record passenger and vehicle volumes. They have turned challenges such as ? xed links and low-cost airlines into op- portunities by raising their game on the shipboard experi- ence and their landside minibreak and vacation programs.

Meanwhile aggressive ? eet expansion projects are un- derway to address not only rising demand but also the ? - nancial and environmental need for ultra-ef? cient vessel performance. From North America to Asia, Australia and

Europe, orders for new ferries are resurgent among opera- tors of all sizes.

Alternatives to fossil fuels have become a recurring fea- ture of the newbuild designs. Climate change – now re- de? ned as the climate emergency – has sparked a growing tide of regulatory compulsion to slash maritime air emis- sions. In the quest for zero emissions, the ferry sector leads the shipping industry in implementing the likes of battery and hydrogen power, as well as ‘cold ironing’ equipment that allows shoreside electricity supply to vessels at berth.

Case studies at Interferry’s 44th annual conference in

London last October underlined the sector’s dedication to ? nding cutting-edge fuel solutions. Norled, a Norwegian operator recognized for pacemaking ? eet electri? cation, announced ‘the next industry game-changer’ with its plan to introduce a hydrogen-fueled ferry in 2021. As the com- pany explained: “The green shift is already there for short routes but not for longer distances. We think liquid hydro- gen from clean sources such as wind, water or solar power will be the way.”

Another presentation featured the hydrogen-powered

HySeas III ferry project, where Interferry is a partner in a www.marinelink.com