Green technology and innovation in spotlight at SMM 2010

‘The main theme for the maritime industry at SMM 2010 is undoubtedly green technology, for protection of resources and the environment, said Dr. Reinhard Lüken, Secretary General of the Community of European Shipyards Association (CESA). ‘A whole host of innovative solutions is available from SMM exhibitors, some of them giving amazing benefits.’

 The tremendous commitment of the maritime industry in this field is also reflected in the global maritime environmental congress (gmec), which will be running concurrently with SMM on 7 and 8 September at Congress Center Hamburg (CCH).

Recovery is getting under way from the global economic and financial crisis, where the shipbuilding industry suffered a significant drop in demand following years of record breaking success. Dr. Lüken now sees economic improvements coming up for the maritime industries, even if renewed orders will not be distributed evenly throughout the world. But he noted that, ‘The shipbuilding market remains a long term growth market in Europe, too. The world population continues to grow rapidly, and the oceans are being used more and more intensively, not only for transport, but also in areas such as generating energy and extracting resources.’

A concern for CESA has been the structural difference between Europeans and market players on other continents, with the average company size in Europe a great deal smaller. That is why, for some time now, European shipbuilders and marine equipment suppliers have looked mainly to special purpose ship building for their market opportunities. That does not mean certain ship types, but rather all products which are significantly different from the standard designs in the mass markets giving good opportunities in many market sectors.

‘The possibilities of presenting successful innovative technical solutions and thus gaining new markets have perhaps never been greater than today’, said Dr Lüken.

The first global maritime environmental congress (gmec) will bring together more than 700 high-ranking representatives from industry, government, academia, navies and environment protection organisations, to elaborate and present practical solutions for environmentally sound, sustainable shipping.

gmec 2010 will be opened jointly with SMM on the evening of 6 September. Both events will be held under the patronage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The welcome address to conference participants will be given by Prof. Dr. Peter Sloterdijk, a well known German philosopher, television host and cultural scientist. At the Climate Conference in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 he emphasised that ‘the only hope for the environment is from technical developments, where the last word is yet to be spoken’.

This can also be applied to gmec 2010, which presents the status quo of maritime environmental protection in the framework of five Panels. Panel 1 will ask the rhetorical and emotional question ‘Why shipping?’ With 97% of global trade carried by sea while producing only 3% of global emissions, it is was shipping which has made it possible to develop countries and continents and without it, globalisation would not have been possible.

Panel 2 is dedicated to maritime environmental legislation, focussing on regional and international emission regulations, which are having more and more impact on shipping. The rules are getting tougher, especially for fuels and underwater coatings.

What regulations are already in force, and what legislative developments are coming up in the next few years?

Panel 3 draws up an environmental inventory of the maritime industry and discusses requirements for greener shipping. The main emphasis is on the technical state of the art and current innovations.

The second day of gmec 2010 starts with update presentations on marine equipment, naval shipbuilding, offshore and the superyacht sector, and presents best-practice solutions.

Panel 4 addresses the impact of shipping on people, and on flora and fauna on shore, such as in port by the emissions from the operation of auxiliary machinery, by the building, repair or conversion of ships at shipyards, or by the hinterland transportation to and from the ports generated by cargo ships. These activities affect not only the coastal strips.

Panel 5 will address ‘Ship design for the future’ and will focus on classic issues such as optimal ship design, more efficient propulsion systems, automation of ship operation, and alternative propulsion systems. The man/machine interface will also be a key subject in this panel.