Page 24: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2024)

INTERVIEW

Embracing Maritime’s

Future with Open Arms

Tech leaders across maritime have the unenviable task of plotting for, at best, a fuzzy future. Make no mistake, the mission is clear: emission reduction leading to decarbonization. But the means to that end – and the realistic timeframe to get there – is less than clear. Sit with Sameer Kalra,

President, Marine, Alfa Laval for awhile and it becomes abundantly clear he has a ? rm handle on the means to make money for Alfa Laval today while funding the technologies that will power the company’s future.

By Greg Trauthwein ameer Kalra, six years in as President, Marine, “I sailed between 1983 to 1993, and I sailed only on heavy

Alfa Laval, has a history that is not unlike fuel oil,” said Kalra. “In those 10 years sailing on the same many heard from maritime executives: start- fuel oil, the engines become a bit more ef? cient, but if I look ing out as a marine engineer in a boiler suit at the machinery on board, in my time, probably the only thing sailing on ships. Today he oversees a large and that really developed in a big way was the incineration and

Sexpanding portfolio of marine technology to oily water separation.” serves the needs of ships today and tomorrow. “Onboard a Fast track 30 years and the view on the ship, from the bridge vessel, we’re the biggest secret in plain sight. The water that to the engine room, is completely different, in some ways un- you drink onboard; Alfa Laval’s water maker is delivering it. recognizable to someone who last sailed in 1993. “I was not

The emissions from the funnel; most likely there is Alfa Laval that imaginative when I left shipping [to visualize] what the equipment cleaning it up. The fuel that goes into the engine future may look like,” said Kalra, “ but today I’m so fasci- that propel the vessel; an Alfa Laval piece of equipment has nated. I think this is re? ection of how innovative we are in most likely cleaned it. We work with three big technology ar- an industry and how we have slowly pushed the boundaries.” eas: heat transfer, separation, and ? uid handling.” Last but not For Alfa Laval the trick today is staying relevant with ship- the least is the company’s most recent acquisition: StormGeo owners regardless of fuel, a transition for the company, too, and with it a world of digital solution possibilities. Today, as new fuels mean new challenges, and the requisite need for

Kalra looks over approximately 20+ independent product ver- investment to ? nd solutions. “Today we are now ? t for pur- ticals, but more than simply pushing product, Kalra said Alfa pose for biofuels, methanol, and gas,” said Kalra. “Next step,

Laval has emerged a remit for experience and guidance, par- transition to make sure that they can also do ammonia, too, for ticularly when it comes to decarbonization. “When customers example.” The only certainty today in maritime is uncertainty, are looking for solutions in this energy transition, Alfa Laval as there is no de? nitive ‘fuel of the future’ that ? ts all needs. is a place you would come. We are a knowledge center.” The key now and in the future is ? exibility. “Neither I, nor you, nor anyone has this crystal ball to say

Business Drivers which fuel is going to be the future fuel in the world,” said

Maritime is in a transcendent period, with digitalization, Kalra. “Quite possibly there will not be a one-size-? ts-all (fuel decarbonization and autonomy collectively impacting ships solution); I don’t see ammonia going on a cruise ship which and ship systems. But Kalra said the real driver today for Alfa is carrying 3000 passenger; nor do I see small product tankers

Laval, and shipowners, is clear. “No matter where you are in going to Sandakan in Malaysia and having green methanol the industrial supply chain, the one thing you can’t escape is available in the storage tanks.” how the energy transition will impact your portfolio. If I go So the key for Alfa Laval, too, is ? exibility, investment and back just ? ve to seven years, our legacy products were built patience, saying his primary focus is making sure that the around one fuel that had been around for 100 years: heavy company’s portfolio is “? t for purpose for the needs ahead.” fuel, oil and gas oil.” “We are doing a lot of cool stuff … wind propulsion, air 24 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • December 2024

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