One of the runners-up to the new Future Seawork award has agreed to write a regular column for Maritime Journal on his work as a PhD student looking at the challenges of decarbonising inland waterways.

Paul Simavari is studying for his doctorate at the University of Newcastle and was short-listed for the award, which was given out at Seawork last week. He has agreed to share his academic journey with MJ over the next few months. Here is Part One.