03 May, 2023: A collaborative effort between the UK and EU has started to create retrofit solutions for carbon capture and other technologies aimed at reducing emissions and fuel consumption in ships.

Despite the fact that waterborne vessels currently have the lowest impact on overall GHG emissions in European transportation, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other regulatory bodies are striving to further reduce emissions from these vessels.

The Cyprus Marine & Maritime Institute (CMMI), which is the Centre for Marine and Maritime Research, is spearheading The Green Marine initiative, which unites 10 partners from various European and UK-based industries and academic institutions, such as the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering from the University of Strathclyde. Their common goal is to offer innovative and practical retrofitting solutions for ships that will lead to a greener and more sustainable maritime industry.

The EU/UK will provide funding of nearly €5 million for the project, which is set to continue until January 2027. The project aims to create retrofitting protocols and solutions that will promote energy and fuel efficiency in shipping, as well as capture the carbon emissions to reduce acidification of oceans. Additionally, the project aims to implement closed air circulation systems that are free from viruses. This will enable the future of shipping to be more sustainable and eco-friendly.

A collection of software tools will be created to gather information on various solutions and assist stakeholders in making informed decisions. This software tool catalogue will be used to showcase innovative solutions onboard Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) vessels as part of the project.

Dr. Iraklis Lazakis and Professor Evangelos Boulougouris, both from University of Strathclyde, will take charge of this initiative and make contributions to all technical work processes, with a particular emphasis on showcasing how to retrofit existing fleets of ships. They will also be involved in the exploitation and dissemination activities related to the project.

As more countries and companies commit to reducing their carbon footprint, it is encouraging to see the shipping industry taking proactive steps to become more sustainable and climate friendly. By embracing new technologies and working collaboratively, we can ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.