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The Global Maritime Environmental Congress (GMEC), a summit meeting of the maritime industry organised by Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC), was held during the Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology International Trade Fair (SMM Exhibition) in Hamburg last week.

The programme included stock taking of the current state of environmental protection efforts and presentations of current and future developments.

"Setting the green course" was the slogan of GMEC, which was held on September 7th and 8th.

There were 52 speakers in 5 panels, making presentations to participants from 36 countries, to analyse the current environmental status of shipping and to show possible solutions for better protection of the maritime environment.

Speakers included the three GMEC Chairmen - Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO, Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise operator; Dr. Corrado Antonini, Chairman Fincantieri; and Spyros Polemis, Chairman International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

"We have a duty to protect the maritime environment, to use resources more efficiently, and to go beyond the requirements of international environmental legislation," said Micky Arison, setting out the expectations for GMEC.

After defining the foremost environmental challenges for shipping, speakers discussed the goals in tackling issues such as reducing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SOx) nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter. Methods discussed included the use of new marine engines, shaft generators, the introduction of solar and wind power and fuel cells. "Zero pollution ships" were also discussed.

Other presentations outlined design shapes and engineering measures for further improvements in energy efficiency of ships, such as an air-lubrication system which substantially reduces frictional losses of the ship's hull as it moves through the water, and solutions to minimize emissions in ports by means of shore-based power supply systems, or the use of liquid natural gas (LNG) for power supply.

The next GMEC will held at the next SMM 2012. Commenting on the event, Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH said "Here at gmec we are giving the industry the world's only forum for development of joint opportunities to make shipping more sustainable and to present these results to the general public. We are totally convinced by the response to this first environmental summit - it is right on course."

Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner, Meyer Werft Shipyard said: "Of course we had meetings in the past, in smaller groups. But the GMEC framework is unique. It shows that the industry is working with great sensitivity and a positive spirit on "sustainable shipping". That is also a signal which is going out from the conference. The expertise of participants at GMEC was very high. An outstanding feature was the close relationship with SMM, as a joint venture between ship builders and marine equipment suppliers.

Dr. Corrado Antonini, Chairman Fincantieri, commented: "This is the first time that a meeting like this has been initiated by industry representatives. It shows the enormous commitment of shipbuilders and shipowners to environmental protection."

Masahiro Samitsu, Corporate Officer and General Manager of the Environment Group, NYK Line, commented: "The conference was a very good opportunity to promote green shipping, to make presentations to the public, and to exchange ideas on know-how with the other participants. The panels were full of really expert speakers."

Spyros Polemis, Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), said: "This conference was a very good start. It gave opportunities to talk to a great many people. We will now see what effects GMEC has in practice."

Dr. Simon Walmsley, Head of the Shipping & Maritime Governance Programme at WWF International commented: "GMEC was an excellent platform, with the key representatives of the maritime industry present. It addressed a whole range of different subjects. This conference was extremely important for the development of sustainable shipping - not least because it advances green thinking within the industry. We want the maritime industry to take on a leading role here."

Jochen Deerberg, Managing Partner of Deerberg Systems said: "This is the first time that the leading thinkers in the maritime industry have got together to talk about practical environmental protection. All the lectures were of an exceptionally high standard, both in content and in presentation. The industry has recognised that it has already achieved a great deal in environmental protection. But it was also clear that there is still much to be improved, especially in air emissions. There are already a great many technical methods for doing that available today. Passenger shipping has a leading role to play here."