According to engineering consultancy Ricardo, if the maritime industry is serious about sustainability, then it must also get serious about working together to forge a clear innovation pathway.
This was a conclusion from a recent industry demonstration event hosted by Ricardo at its Shoreham Technical Centre.
Adrian Greaney, Ricardo Strategy, Technology and Innovation Director said: “There are a complex set of challenges facing the maritime sector and adjacent industries. And it’s clear that change is moving at pace. To date, however, the innovation focus has been on technologies. Now we need innovation to focus on how the sector can collaborate to accelerate its journey to sustainability. And that’s what this summit is about. Bringing together vessel owners, operators, port authorities and energy suppliers to listen to their viewpoints and understand what we need from each other if we are to agree a way forward. There are a lot of bold and cutting-edge initiatives in motion, but the big picture is still disjointed. Now is the time to bring all the pieces of the jigsaw together”.
Port operators, shipowners, ferry companies, industry associations, official bodies and energy companies discussed their maritime decarbonisation journeys, and topics that included alternative vessel fuels, the impact of AI, renewables, developments in shore power, electrification, safety management and advice on securing funding support.
Tim Scarbrough, Ricardo Director of Maritime, said: “Clarity is coming, not just in fuels, but in a range of adjacent technologies. As measures come into force, we should, as an industry, have a much more aligned regulatory environment, from the IMO through to national policies, and that will bring consistency and efficiency to the decarbonisation challenge.”
Those attending were shown Ricardo’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell facilities and on-site H2 storage and testing centres, as well as a demonstration of the sustainable hydrogen-powered shipping (‘sHYpS’) project, where Ricardo engineers are developing hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technologies that are expected to play a part in powering the next generation of zero emission passenger ships.
Image: Ricardo’s Tim Scarbrough, Director of Maritime; Olivia Carpenter-Lomax, Associate Director, Energy Decarbonisation; Adrian Greaney, Strategy, Technology and Innovation Director (source: Ricardo)
