Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2016)

GREEN MARINE SOLUTIONS

Gerd

Wessels

Gerd Wessels (born 1971) studied shipbuilding and marine engineer- ing at the Bremen University of

Applied Sciences after graduating from high school and apprentice- ship. He gained valuable experi- ence while studying as a classi? - cation surveyor at Germanischer

Lloyd, a company with which he still works closely today as the chairman of the GL Environmen- tal Committee. After two years in a position of responsibility in the family business, Gerd Wessels took over the management of the

Wessels group from his father on

December 31, 2004 at the age of 33. As his father anticipated, he brought fresh ideas to the com- pany by increasing its ef? ciency, which successfully led to new ar- eas of business. Gerd Wessels has focused primarily on new con- struction and the rejuvenation of the ? eet as well as the expansion of the business into Asia. For him, the term “responsibility” includes protecting the environment in ad- (Image: PPM News Service Pospiech) dition to securing the future of the company. The highest priority for this father of two is therefore the

Gerd Wessels, the 45 year old CEO of the Wessels Reederei GmbH, was elected in 2013 as Chairman of the Environmental sustainability of his actions.

Committee of the Technical Advisory Board of DNV GL. In this role he has championed a number of pioneering develop- ments, such as the “Environmental Passport – Operation.” of waste disposal on sea as well as the shipping company supported and pro- (the mounting of the Schneekluth WED with MAN D&T, and Marine Gas Engi- discharge of wastewater. The reduction moted – that was an important milestone & spoilers effects a hitchless and linear neering (TGE), we checked all aspects of emission values and the development of Green Shipping. water stream to the propeller). Further during the last two years of a possible of new, as well as the use of alternative Additional cooperation in research retro? ts with this special fuel saving retro? t of the drive line of our 1,000 drive solutions play a major role for projects to increase wind supported ship ducts will be done in the next future. TEU-container vessels from heavy fuel us. In this regard we are continuously propulsion, e.g. during the starting phase Our avtivities so far reach from estab- to natural gas. We also checked the in- searching for new possibilities. with Mariko ( the Maritime Kompetenz- lishing propulsion increasing measures stallation possibilities of scrubber sys- zentrum in Leer) with the topic of inno- to software launch and energy ef? ciency tems. At the end we decided not to use

With which measures do you counter vative Wind Hybrid Coaster followed increase as well as the development of the scrubber, instead the natural gas. since that time. The improvement of the alternative propulsion systems. Scrubbers have a signi? cantly poorer en- the most important environmental im- ship propulsion with the consequent and Our latest and newest project for more vironmental balance compared to natural pacts?

We have produced continuous- optimal power exploitation is consistent- environmental protection in shipping is gas – and they extend the use of heavy ly during recent years a series of inno- ly in our focus. the retro? t of our container vessel Wes fuel. Furthermore, in regards to scrub- vations, which ensures sustainability in Meanwhile we have equipped 11 Amelie (1,036 TEU) for the use with ber, the use of open-loop and closed- the shipping sector. One good example vessels of the type Rhein-M with natural gas; this will be the ? rst world- loop systems in different national ship- is the SkySails-Technology which we Schneekluth-ducts, with this we safe 200 wide retro? t of a container vessel from ping areas is not clear. Therefore, from (adopted) in 2007 as the worldwide ? rst to 400 liter heavy fuel per day per ship heavy fuel to natural gas. In cooperation our point of view, the future course shall www.marinelink.com 41

MR #3 (40-51).indd 41 3/2/2016 10:29:22 AM