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interview Pieter van OOrd, CeO,van OOrd for methanol. Obviously, green methanol is, at the moment, We have a number of people around here, in Northwest only limited available. But we expect that betwee now and Europe now, who produce biofuels. Neste, from Finland, for 2030, that a large infrastructure of green methanol will be example, is a big player in biofuels.

built. We also have fuel tanks for green methanol built in Shell Oil has just made an announcement that they’re going the vessel. to build here in Rotterdam, at the largest refnery, also a large

With respect to the Calypso, we have the engines suitable biofuel factory.

for E-fuels. On this we will wait on the decision on what type In the future I would say fuel technology, on the one hand, of fuel we’re going to use. phasing out marine diesel with the existing engines, with bio-

One other fuel I’ve not yet mentioned is biofuels. On our fuels. On the other hand, new vessels, making them suitable present dredgers, which have traditional engines, we carry out for the E-fuels. Whether it be ammonia or methanol, I don’t more and more projects with biofuels. know, but I think that will be our future.

When you look ahead to the coming genera- tion, what do you see as the greatest chal- lenge for maritime companies of your shape and size to survive, to prosper? How are you investing today to ensure your tomorrow?

We’re living in a time of transition, and you only survive when you adapt. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market (re- garding the) direction we’re going. But it’s clear that, driven by the Paris Agreement, we have to move to carbon neutral- ity. That’s going to change the entire industry. I think what it means, is that we have to phase out all vessels; we have to build new vessels.

What is the largest challenge? I would say it’s a cultural challenge. That mindset of your people needs to change.

We cannot continue the way we have in the past. We need to build new vessels, which (today) is quite a challenge, because new build prices have gone up considerably, and you need to fnd a proper shipyards to build your new vessels. I expect in the next decades a massive wave of investments in all sorts of new vessels, whether it be container vessels, bulkers, tankers, dredgers, wind turbine installation vessels, which are suitable for this carbon neutral era.

Okay. Pieter, I truly appreciate your time. I look forward to following the van Oord story for another 30 years.

Well, and we’re moving (more) to the United States. Fol- low the news. In the near future, we’re going to do more an- nouncements about the United States.

Watch the inter- view with Pieter

Van Oord @ bit.ly/3GVjQGJ www.marinelink.com 41