Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine technology international trade fair in Hamburg
Koji Sekimizu, the new Secretary-General of IMO (International Maritime Organization) has been in office for just under two months now. He gave an interview to Hamburg Fair in the run-up to the 25th SMM, shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair Hamburg, to be held from 4 to 7 September, expressing his appreciation of the progress made by shipping towards more sustainability – “I am more than happy to talk about what activities the regulator of the international shipping industry has taken, as IMO has a very good story to tell in this respect.”
He then referred to the mandatory measures adopted by IMO in this context in the past year and added that, as soon as they have entered into force in 2013, they would require a progressive improvement in vessel efficiency and a consequent reduction in CO2 emissions. But he underlined the fact that it was left to industry to determine exactly how the defined targets are to be met – “It will be interesting to see which technologies find favour”.
Global application
Mr. Sekimizu explained that, in parallel to the “Energy Efficiency Design Index” (EEDI) for new ships, IMO had also adopted the “Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan” (SEEMP), which is mandatory for all ships of the existing fleet. “The SEEMP will give the industry an additional incentive to monitor and improve the energy performance of ships.” IMO was also working to develop and refine market-based measures that would provide a financial incentive to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
He went on to stress the importance of international standards – “Because of the unique structure of the shipping industry, it must be regulated internationally, with measures that apply to all ships irrespective of flag and ownership. IMO is the only forum where that can be achieved.”
IMO leaves it up to the ship-owners which solutions to use for reduction of sulphur emissions, e.g. in port – for example use of cleaner, low-sulphur fuels, or installation of suitable filter technologies. What matters is that they should meet the specified standards as set out in MARPOL Annex VI.
But IMO is working on a code for gas-fuelled ships, because LNG could be an attractive fuel alternative, specifically for emission control areas (ECAs). “As the international regulator of international shipping, it is important to take a holistic approach and to ensure that the industry has the tools needed to meet the emissions standards,” said Mr. Sekimizu.
He emphasised the importance of technical progress in various components – “Although we can all hope for a technological breakthrough that would solve the issue, or a new zero-carbon fuel to come on the market, there will be no magic bullet or single solution. Hull shape, improved diesel engines and propulsion systems, to mention but a few, will continue to be the focus, besides speed reductions, which may prove to be the single most important issue in energy efficiency.”
“Green Shipping” at SMM
Fuel efficiency and environmental protection will also be key subjects at SMM, shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair Hamburg, to be held at the Hamburg Fair site from 4 to 7 September 2012. The latest results from research and development departments of the companies will be on show at SMM. The area of “Green Shipping” will be in focus at the global maritime environmental congress (gmec), to be held on 3 and 4 September. gmec is a premium event at SMM, where it is included for the second time as a key component in the supporting programme. It will include four workshops, where experts will discuss reductions of CO2 and sulphur, ballast water management, and other important questions. gmec, like SMM as a whole, will again be held under the patronage of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
This is the ideal opportunity to present products, see innovations, meet new customers, cultivate relationships, and close deals. SMM, which is held for the 25th time this year, is the top event in the international maritime industry calendar. More than 2,000 exhibitors from over 60 countries are expected at SMM 2012. There will be more than 50,000 trade visitors from all parts of the world; they can expect an extensive supporting programme with more than 150 programme items.
Source: SMM Hamburg News
