Molten Salt Reactors: Maritime’s Nuclear Option
A race is being run by nuclear scientists and ship designers. The prize? “Decarbonization’s” holy grail — believed to be a “small” thorium-fueled, molten-salt rector’s unlimited power to propel sea trade. At the same time, a recently revived discussion among leading marine-nuclear thinkers revolves now around how to put an ultra-modern, as-yet non-existent marine reactor aboard a modern commercial vessel. As with nuclear power generally, shipborne reactors produce national discussion first, then discovery.
Maritime Decarbonization: The Path Starts in Norway
Breaking new ground: the all-electric, zero-emissions Future of The FjordsNorwegian cruise vessel offers amazing tourist experience while protecting fragile UNESCO World Heritage environmentFuture of the Fjords, the world’s first all-electric and completely emissions-free ship, launched in April this year by Norwegian tours operator The Fjords, is now operating as a cruise vessel on the spectacular Gudvangen to Flåm route along the Nærøyfjord, Sognefjord and Aurlandsfjord of western Norway.
Hurtigruten Signs on to Ban HFO in the Arctic
Expedition cruise ship operator Hurtigruten has joined international environmental organizations in efforts aiming to spearhead the protection of Arctic communities and ecosystems from risks posed by the use of marine heavy fuel oil (HFO) to power ships. At the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Norway, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam signed the Arctic Commitment along with Dr. Sian Prior of the Clean Arctic Alliance, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, an international coalition of environmental organizations campaigning for a ban on heavy fuel oil use in the Arctic. “The Arctic Commitment makes a clear challenge to businesses…
Damen joins World Ocean Council
Dutch-based Damen Shipyards Group has become the latest member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). The global shipbuilder headquartered in the Netherlands is the first European shipbuilder to join the WOC, the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. Damen works to reduce environmental impacts of shipping, by focusing on optimizing ship design and working on product innovations. This has resulted in, for example, the E3 label, applying to new Damen designs that are environmentally friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable. In addition, Damen recently formed partnerships with the Bellona Foundation, the Oslo-based institute for sustainable environmental solutions, and with the BlueTec Tidal Energy project.
World Ocean Council Welcomes Damen
Damen Shipyards Group has become the latest member of the World Ocean Council (WOC). Damen is the first European shipbuilder to join the WOC, the international business leadership alliance on ocean sustainability, science and stewardship. By focusing on optimizing ship design and working on product innovations, Damen works to reduce environmental impacts of shipping. This has resulted in, for example, an in-house E3 label, applying only to new Damen designs that are Environmentally friendly, Efficient in operation and Economically viable.
Damen, Bellona Partner on Low-emission Designs
A three-year partnership has been launched between Oslo-based NGO Bellona Foundation and Dutch company Damen Shipyards Group with the main goal of exploring and developing concept vessels for the future. The agreement was officially signed March 18 during an industry event in Stavanger. The Bellona Foundation and Damen both acknowledge that today’s global shipping industry will need to undergo substantial change to achieve its own climate and environmental objectives. The NGO…
One Step Closer to Hull and Propeller Measurement Standards
Jotun released a statement welcoming action taken by the International Standards Organization to mobilize an expert group to start work on a common industry standard for measurement of changes in hull and propeller performance. Jotun, in cooperation with the Bellona Foundation (Bellona) and Standard Norway, has been successful in mobilizing shipping industry stakeholders in an effort to reach general agreement on a method for measuring changes in hull and propeller performance, the company said. By improving hull and propeller performance, the world fleet can reduce fuel cost by as much as $30 billion per year and achieve an estimated 0.3% reduction in manmade GHG emissions.
