Greg Atkinson News

Japan-based Eco Marine Power (EMP), a company develops and markets renewable energy based systems for ships and other vessels, has applauded the recently announced introduction of the Poseidon Principles – a global framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of financial institutions’ shipping portfolios.EMP said that these principles will also have a strong emphasis on zero emissions and EMP’s renewable energy solutions and design concepts are ideally suited to meet this challenge.EMP’s Aquarius Marine Solar Power for example is available now and was recently installed on a large cargo ship. This solar power system…

Japanese marine renewable energy technology compan Eco Marine Power (EMP) is conducting an evaluation trial using the MgBOX fuel cell or air battery in co-operation with Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd. (Furukawa Battery) and several ship owners.These trials will help determine how this innovative emergency battery can be best stored and used on ships. Once this work is completed it is planned to make the MgBOX available for use worldwide on a variety of vessels, offshore platforms & other marine applications.The MgBOX is a small and portable emergency magnesium (Mg) air battery developed by Furukawa Battery. The MgBOX can be stored for long periods and is activated by simply adding fresh or salt water.

In another significant move towards commercial release of the EnergySail, Eco Marine Power (EMP) announced that it has begun collaboration with ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai) to confirm design requirements and issues related to sea trials.According to a press release from the renewable energy tech company, the goal is to pave the way to the full commercial production of the EnergySail and thus complete the preparation of technologies required for the release of EMP’s Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy or Aquarius MRE solution.The patented Aquarius MRE is an advanced integrated system of rigid sails, marine-grade solar panels, energy storage modules, charging system and marine computers that will enable ships to tap into renewable energy by harnessing the power provided by the wind and sun.

To further enhance its research capabilities Eco Marine Power announced today that it will begin using the Neural Network Console provided by Sony Network Communications Inc., as part of a strategy to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various ongoing ship related technology projects including the further development of the patented Aquarius MRE (Marine Renewable Energy) and EnergySail. The Neural Network Console is an integrated development environment using deep learning for AI creation and has been used in deep learning applied technology development within Sony since 2015. Various functions are included such as recognition technology and a full-fledged GUI (graphical user interface) and these allow for deep learning programs to be developed.

Eco Marine Power (EMP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Singapore based shipping company to supply its Aquarius Management and Automation (MAS) + Solar solution. The solution will also include hardware and software that will allow ships to monitor fuel oil consumption in real time, automatically calculate NOx/SOx/CO2 emissions and interface with marine solar power systems. Initially one ship in the fleet will be installed with the Aquarius MAS + Solar solution and its performance jointly evaluated.

In co-operation with several shipping companies and technology partners, Eco Marine Power (EMP)has begun a detailed study focused on the practical applications of its patented EnergySail and Aquarius MRE technologies. The study will cover the engineering aspects of installing an EnergySail or Aquarius MRE based solution on a variety of ships and the expected Fuel Oil Consumption (FOC) and CO2 savings that can be achieved in an operational environment. Energy storage options will also be studied including the possible use of fuel cells. Technology partners currently involved in the study with EMP include Teramoto Iron Works Co., Ltd. (Onomichi, Japan), KEI System Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) and The Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd. (Yokohama, Japan).

The Japan Patent Office has granted a patent to Eco Marine Power (EMP) for its innovative EnergySail technology, an advanced rigid sail device that can be fitted with a range of renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind power devices. With the patent in place, EMP can now begin licensing the technology to proceed so that commercial production of the sail and associated technologies can begin in 2018. A unique renewable energy platform, EnergySail has been designed specifically…

As part of the ongoing Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Innovation Project, Eco Marine Power (EMP) stated that the Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS) installed on Blue Star Delos has been updated with new fuel oil consumption (FOC) and emissions monitoring software. This updated software combined with the Aquarius MAS hardware allows for fuel consumption data from all flow meters on the ship to be displayed and logged in real-time. In addition CO2, NOx and SOx emissions are calculated based on the fuel type being used. Data is logged every minute and via a connection to a dedicated GPS unit, the ships location and speed is displayed and logged. A trip-meter is also available so that fuel consumption can be monitored for a specific time period or voyage.

Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced that it has entered into a sales and support agreement with Jastram Technologies Ltd. of Canada. This agreement paves the way for EMP to begin offering a wide range of products and services to the Canadian shipping and offshore sector. Jastram Technologies has been providing high quality equipment and services to the marine industry since 1983. It has coast to coast locations in Canada with strategically located offices in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Eco Marine Power’s (EMP) Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) System, a wind and solar power solution for ships, has been granted a patent in Japan, paving way for commercial production. The Aquarius MRE System is an integrated system of rigid sails, solar panels, energy storage modules and marine computer platforms that will enable ships to tap into renewable energy by harnessing the power provided by the wind and sun. The rigid sails that will be used by the Aquarius MRE System are based on EMP's EnergySail technology (Patent Pending).

As a result of the recent successful completion of sea trials on-board the high speed car and passenger ferry, Blue Star Delos, Eco Marine Power (EMP) has now cleared the Aquarius MAS + Solar and Aquarius Marine Solar Power solutions for commercial release. During two days of testing and evaluation on the 17th and 19th May, 2015, the performance of the Aquarius MAS + Solar trial system on-board Delos was assessed by both EMP and Blue Star Ferries technical personnel as part of the Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Innovation Project. Aquarius MAS + Solar is an innovative renewable energy solution for ships and the trial system includes a 2.3 kWp marine solar panel array, a 5.4 kWhr battery pack, MPPT charge controllers, a marine computer plus associated communications and interface devices.

Eco Marine Power together with strategic partners has installed an Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS) integrated with a marine solar panel array on-board the Blue Star 'Delos'. The Aquarius MAS has been installed as part of a joint renewable energy project with Blue Star Ferries and the approximately 2kW trial solar array on-board the vessel is now in operation and providing a source of renewable energy for the ship. This important milestone for EMP means that the company has taken the Aquarius MAS from development to commercial use in just a few years and is also a critical step towards the commercial release of the combined wind & solar power system for shipping - the Aquarius MRE (Marine Renewable Energy) System.

Eco Marine Power is pleased to announce that it has been named as a finalist in two categories of the inaugural Ship Efficiency Awards 2014. The Ship Efficiency Awards 2014, hosted by Lloyd's Register and organised by Fathom, will recognise and celebrate the organisations and individuals within the maritime sector that excel in efficient operations, implement fresh thinking, offer proven efficiency benefits and technological innovation. Eco Marine Power has been short-listed in the Initiative of the Year category for the Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Innovation Project and the One to Watch category for the Aquarius MRE System Project.

Eco Marine Power announced today that it has begun a project to jointly deploy and evaluate with Blue Star Ferries of Greece, a range of innovative renewable energy related technologies for shipping including the Aquarius Management and Automation System (MAS) with an integrated marine solar power system. The Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Innovation Project is a major step forward towards making shipping more sustainable through the use of renewable energy and fuel reduction solutions on-board ships. The project will evaluate in stages, a number of innovative solutions developed by Eco Marine Power (EMP) and its strategic partners…

Pathway for commercial production of EnergySail and Aquarius MRE System established. Eco Marine Power (EMP) announced that it has taken another major step forward towards bringing its EnergySail and Aquarius MRE System technologies to the market by forming a strategic alliance with Teramoto Iron Works Co. Ltd. - a manufacturer of marine equipment located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The strategic alliance with Teramoto Iron Works will provide EMP access to a production base and testing center in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture - one of Japan’s most important shipbuilding areas.

KEI System Ltd (KEI) and Eco Marine Power (EMP) have jointly established the Aquarius Innovation Lab in Osaka, Japan, which includes an indoor test centre plus an outdoor area for evaluating the performance of hardware such as solar panels, rigid sails & wind power devices. The Aquarius Innovation Lab will conduct research & design plus product development activities related to marine renewable energy systems and fuel saving technologies. Ongoing projects include the development of the Aquarius MRE System and EnergySail, both of which are to be tested in the facility.

Eco Marine Power (EMP) to use the KEI 3240 Data Logger to verify fuel savings & measure the performance of its Aquarius MRE System. The Aquarius MRE System is a wind & solar power solution for sustainable shipping, and the data logger is to be supplied by KEI System Ltd (KEI) of Osaka, Japan. The use of the KEI 3240 Data Logger will provide a ship's crew with real time information regarding how much fuel consumption is being reduced through the use of Aquarius MRE System. This and other data can also be recorded and analysed later.

Eco Marine Power Co. Ltd. (EMP) release further details of its modified version of the Aquarius MRE System for naval and coast guard ships. This modified system will use EMP’s patent pending EnergySail technology to form an array of devices able to harness renewable energy on these types of ships. The unique flexibility of the EnergySail design means that it can be adapted to suit a wide range of ships while the basic elements of the system remain identical. This simplifies parts management…