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INTERVIEW John Waterhouse, elliott Bay Design group “There are so many technologies out maritime must include digitalization and work when there is a need for brief en- there that it’s hard for people to make autonomy, but according to Waterhouse, ergy pushes.

choices,” said Waterhouse. “I see our neither topic is particularly ‘new.’ He said many clients are looking at role as a guide, helping to guide opera- “Frankly, digitalization has been autonomous opportunities, “but in real- tors through the thicket of different tech- around for a long time, as we’ve been us- ity we have had autonomy at different nologies to reach a solution that is appro- ing computers to control engines, HVAC levels for some time … autopilot, the priate for their operation. There is not a systems and provide navigation informa- unmanned engine room are both forms standard or canned solution, it depends tion,” he said. “Today we have the abil- of autonomy. He maintains that the tech- on the customer.” ity (and the challenge) to combine the nology is there, as evidenced by autono-

As new ship fuels and marine propul- information from those various digital mous operations in the subsea sector, sion applications emerge, questions now channels and determine how to use the “but the practical side of me asks; what’s turn the real cost to the environment of resulting data so that it is most impactful going to happen when things start going sourcing and using that fuel. “Hydrogen to your operation.” wrong? The maritime industry is conser- is great but the dirty secret is that it comes Waterhouse contends that the real vative with cause.” from breaking apart natural gas,” said challenge moving forward will center “I think we need to be bold in our

Waterhouse. “That’s the primary source on energy management onboard ships thinking, but cautious in our applica- of commercial hydrogen in the U.S. right and boats; specifically using less of it tions,” concludes Waterhouse. “Don’t now. Can you produce hydrogen from via optimized hull forms and systems be afraid to consider. It doesn’t cost that renewable sources? Yes you can, but that to recover, store, monitor and manage much money to play around with ideas; infrastructure is not there today.” energy, citing innovations such as the and that small investment could turn up “battery in a box on deck” solution for some great benefits. But if you’re afraid

Digital Revolution? offshore oil, an energy storage solution to make that initial investigation, things

Any discussion on the evolution of that assists during dynamic positioning will pass you by.” www.marinelink.com 39