2015 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum successfully concluded on 22nd April

Session 1 : Sustainable Shipping

• Stamatis Fradelos, ABS, presented an update on the most important international and regional regulatory developments in the environmental arena highlighting also the most interesting submissions under discussion at the forthcoming MEPC 68.
• William H. Moore, American P&I Club, presented Club’s guide ‘Welcome to the USA’ and explained how to comply with key regulations of which shipowners should be aware when trading to and from the US.
• Benoit Loicq, ECSA, presented EU/IMO approach on the safe and environmentally sound ship recycling. He concluded that the European Commission must ensure that the implementation of the EU Regulation provides any recycling yards with an incentives for sustainable practices.
• Sotiris Raptis, Transport & Environment analysed how the new EU Regulation on MRV will impact new rules on cargo owners’ decisions noting that according to the Third IMO GHG Study the projected increase in transport demand will offset any efficiency gains.
• Klaus Grensemann, QACE, gave his feedback on the role of QACE towards sustainable shipping.
• Panayiotis Mitrou, Hellenic Lloyd’s SA, focused on the Poseidon Med project and referred to the opportunities arising from the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel. The aim of the project is to revive the shipping sector through the planning and executing of a smooth transition for East Mediterranean shipping to a new era, the Gas era

Session 2 : Energy Efficiency

• Jarle Coll Blomhoff, DNV GL Maritime, explained that there are two main drivers for improving tanker energy efficiency; changing vessel design and reducing losses by improving operation. He also provided actual data of the energy efficiency project with Euronav.
• Konstantinos Kanellakis, Schneider Electric, gave a presentation on the energy efficiency potential of using variable speed drives to run fans and pumps. He analysed the issues that may arise by the use of drives on ships, like harmonics, electromagnetic interference (EMC) and voltage peaks.
• Albert Leyson, Drew Marine, covered the next generation fuel management solutions on a risk-based approach by analysing fuel quality, fuel specifications, component maintenance and system upset.
• Gerald Rolfe, SKF Marine, focused on the Condition Based Maintenance which optimizes asset efficiency and provides to ship operators clearly improved equipment reliability and improved health and safety.
• Edwin Schuirink, VAF Instruments, covered issues relevant to monitoring hull and propeller efficiency; an important issue as the world fleet is sailing with approx.30% added resistance due to fouling.
• Yoshihisa Okada, Nakashima Propeller, gave a presentation on the propeller and new energy saving devices for EEDI by illustrating the example of a new propeller included FRP which has higher strength than Nickel Aluminuim Bronze.

Session 3 : Fuel Options

• John Kokarakis, Bureau Veritas, presented the available future fuel options. He concluded that LNG could be a major fuel in the shipping sector from 2020 up to 2070 and after 2070 fuels such as hydrogen, synthetic fuels and biofuels may be chosen depending on the characteristics of the ship
• Joris van Kreij, Chart Industries, gave an update on the LNG ship fuel systems and focused on the importance of high grade insulation of LNG tanks. He recommended to select a supplier with extensive experience in building vacuum insulated tanks.
• Maria Kyratsoudi, Hellenic Lloyd’s, presented the challenge up to 2020 for SOx compliance. She analysed how exhaust gas cleaning may be a mature industrial technology, however the decision of using scrubbers is not straightforward. She concluded that operators need to consider their own financial modelling and asset statues to develop tailored solutions.
• Kai Låtun, Yara Marine Technologies AS, analysed under which conditions the profitability of a scrubber investment should be evaluated. He gave some concrete examples of scrubber installations onboard vessels, illustrated how to calculate payback time for a scrubber investment and also reviewed the costs of alternative consumables during installation.
• Gilberto Rubini, ECOSPRAY Technology, gave a presentation on how to comply with emissions limits and meet shipowners’ operational needs. He explained that Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems ensure no polluting discharges into the sea as well as no particulate and PAH in the combustion fumes.
• Marco Dierico, DuPont/BELCO, covered the benefits, the technology and market trends of scrubber systems. Benefits relate to the long term savings on fuel. Trends are showing a substantial price reduction for scrubbers. Also passenger ships & Ro-RO ferries tend to open and hybrid loop systems.

Session 4 : Ballast Water Management

• Joseph Angelo, INTERTANKO, provided a presentation on the Shipowners’ concerns with Ballast Water Management related to both the IMO BWM Convention and the USCG BWM Regulations. He informed the forum about the initiatives INTERTANKO and the shipping industry have taken to address these concerns at IMO and the successful outcome of these initiatives.
• Gary Croot, IMESA, analysed the regulatory and legislative status in the US of BWM and how affect shipowners. He also advised the audience where to focus for type approval process and covered VGP/ USCG similarities and differences.
• Cedric Chatteleyn, Thomas Miller Hellas, gave his feedback of the BWM Convention impact on business, operational and insurance costs. He concluded that the Convention once enters into force, will undoubtedly lead ton increase both operational and insurance costs.
• Leif Eric Caspersen, ERMA First, analysed the ten myths about the Ballast Water Treatment. He highlighted that it is never late to do anything about the environment with all the ballast water being carried around the world.
• Stelios Kyriakou, Wartsila, covered the ballast water issues in order to act as a reminder of the reasons for the Ballast Water Convention. The international and local regulations were examined from the standpoint of performance and equipment type approval processes.
• Juha Kiukas, Trojan Marinex, gave feedback on the USCG type approval. He concluded that USCG AMS approval is only an interim solution and paths to type approval vary. Many ship owners question UV based solutions due to so called “live versus dead” issue”. USCG has however the ability to accept alternative test methods like the MPN, widely used for UV based systems.