The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has brought together industry, academic and port stakeholders for a fuel pathway roundtable held as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program, with the discussions focused on an offshore power barge concept for the Great Lakes region.

The in-person session included representatives from ABS, the Port of Detroit, the University of Michigan and Elliott Bay Design Group, who took part in a full day of technical presentations and collaborative discussion.

According to ABS, the meeting covered the concept of operations, emissions-reduction calculations, energy pathway and decision modelling, the CHAMP barge design, and a risk workshop on hazard identification methodology and assessment planning.

The event concluded with a roundtable aimed at reaching a decision point on a fuel pathway, which ABS described as an important step towards advancing shore power solutions for the Great Lakes.

Shore power systems enable vessels to connect to the electrical grid while alongside, allowing auxiliary engines to be switched off and reducing emissions during time spent in port.

The initiative is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program, which aims to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance at US ports.

ABS said that efforts such as this roundtable are helping to advance cleaner port and maritime operations.