Page 53: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2020)

HYBRID DRIVES RENEWABLES

Shipping has certainly moved towards being more sustainable ... but there’s also a fair amount of “greenwashing” in terms of companies stating they are implementing steps to be “green” where in reality the measures are

Photos:ECO Marine often more focused on reducing costs or appearing “green”.

Greg Atkinson, CTO, ECO Marine tor is still very conservative in terms of trialing or adopting terms of part ownership of patents and intellectual property, new technologies.” plus gain from newly acquired skills and knowledge,” said

Being ‘green’ in the marine industry has changed over the Atkinson. “This year we plan to move our integrated wind and last decade or so, but Atkinson remains skeptical that the solar power system: Aquarius MRE, out to sea after ? nishing changes are all real. “Shipping has certainly moved towards evaluation of the patented EnergySail at the Onomichi Marine being more sustainable during the last 10 years, but as with Tech Test Center (MTTC) in Japan. This test center has been other industries there’s also a fair amount of “greenwashing” established with Teramoto Iron Works, a company with a his- in terms of companies stating they are implementing steps to tory of providing high quality ? ttings to the shipping industry be “green” where in reality the measures are often more fo- dating back to 1934.” cused on reducing costs or appearing “green”,” he said. “A Aquarius MRE is designed to integrate with other ship sys- notable example would be the cruise sector, where companies tems and equipment, providing a platform for technology often state that they are committed to reducing their impact providers to “showcase their products during a major global on the environment but meanwhile continue to build more project aimed at making a signi? cant contribution towards re- and bigger ships. Judging by their media releases though you ducing ship emissions.” would think large cruise ships with theme park rides were shining examples of sustainable shipping. They’re not. How- Japan Leads the Way ever, there has de? nitely been a shift in awareness across ship- “The Japanese Government has for many years had a strate- ping towards acknowledgement that more needs to be done. gy in place to develop the “hydrogen economy” and has made

So I’d rate the progress so far as being below average, but funding available to assists companies in developing technol- there are positive signs that this will improve during the next ogies aligned with this strategy,” said Atkinson in discussing 10 years.” his company’s ‘home turf. “In addition the government has made funding available over the past years to encourage the

R&D development of ship related technologies aimed at reducing

Eco Marine Power must live on the cusp of research and fuel consumption and emissions I believe Japanese shipyards develpment, and it actively works with a number of partners appreciate that they need to compete globally by producing globally in this regard. “These projects provide opportunities ships that have a technological edge, and will be able to meet for technology providers and shipping companies to be part of the expectations of ship owners in terms of being able to com- the development process and share in the resulting bene? ts in ply with existing and future environmental guidelines.” www.marinelink.com 53

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