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On 24th June, Imtech Marine & Offshore organized an event for the maritime industry at its premises in Rotterdam, dedicated to the theme Green Ship Energy Solutions.

A number of expert speakers from the maritime industry met to discuss the issue of regulations, trends and technological developments concerning efficient and green energy management.

Themes included new ways of storing energy, the use of new energy sources and achieving efficient electrical networks on board ships.

In its presentation entitled ‘Powered by Imtech - Green Energy Solutions', Imtech Marine & Offshore also presented its vision of zero-emission ships.

Event chairman Kees-Jan Mes said "Environmental awareness is a growing trend in the shipping and shipbuilding industry. We organised this event because Imtech provides technology, expertise and technical competences to influence emissions of ships. Developing innovative solutions for ship energy and management systems is a nominated strategy of Imtech. The strategic research agenda of Imtech Marine & Offshore is focused on emission-free and unmanned ships."

"Imtech Marine Group has also recently installed a strategy group on green shipping," Mr. Mes continued. "Achieving zero emissions is a challenge which can be enhanced by changing operational ship's management, but also by the use of alternative fuel sources and alternative technology. We were honored that speakers of Bureau Veritas, TNO, Fugro, Greenpeace and Drivetek were prepared to share their views, experiences, opinions and knowledge, which made the program highly interesting."

The program included lectures from Bureau Veritas on regulations, TNO on innovative ship networks and Imtech on the latest technological developments in green ship power. Fugro, Greenpeace and Drivetek explained policies and highlighted recent projects such as Fugro Searcher, Rainbow Warrior III and PlanetSolar.

The guests were then taken on a guided tour around the premises of Imtech Marine and shown examples of energy technology and drive systems in production for several projects, as well as simulation possibilities.

Some 80 people from the maritime industry representing various segments (yachting, offshore, naval, shipbuilding) were present at the event and also participated in a forum where a number of theses on ‘green shipping' and ‘green ship power' were discussed.

Conclusions: ‘A green ship is an evolution, not a revolution'

Conclusions at the end of the day were said to be varied, but with the agreed statement that 'green starts with awareness, values and skills'.

The general consensus of the meeting was also said to be that ‘a green ship is an evolution, not a revolution'. "Ships can and will become greener and greener by more frequently and more intensively applying various possibilities," Imtech Marine said.

Another conclusion reached at the event was that it was important that flag states and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) provide the industry with ‘a green level playing field' and clarity in terms of regulations.

Kees-Jan Mes said that managing emissions was really a 'multidisciplinary and complex challenge', which concerns technology, operational concept and human interface, adding that return on investment is and always will be an important factor in the decision-making process concerning green ships.

All information concerning the event, including documents, presentations and an online forum, can be found at the following address below:

www.imtechmarinegroup.com/greenenergy

[Image (From left to right): Martin Berkhoff (Imtech Marine & Offshore), Pepjin Verstand (Fugro), Herman Spilker (Bureau Veritas), Hans van Rooij (Greenpeace), Berend Evenblij (TNO), Kees-Jan Mes (Imtech Marine & Offshore), Thomas Schafroth (Drivetek)]