Mitigation and moving towards low carbon waterborne transport infrastructure

If shipping were a country, it would be the world’s sixth largest emitter. How can an industry considered a major polluter become net zero – and what innovations is big shipping adopting to get there, fast? 

A new article in the Marine Professional Magazine - "Polluter to net zero: How to decarbonise shipping" - discusses considerations on how the shipping industry can reduce emissions.  

Read the full article here. 

Hybrid vessels can make fuel efficiency gains up to 30%, depending on their operating profile. Underpinned by state-of-the-art engineering, hybrid ships are helping to cut emissions and drive fuel efficiency on mid-size ships. There are possibilities in larger segments, too.

The Marine Professional Magazine have published an article discussing the development of hybrid ships and highlights some examples of vessels that are due to conduct their first voyages. 

You can read the full article here. 

A new survey from the IMarEST and Marine Professional  shows solid support for decarbonisation targets, but less certainty about how to achieve them. A discussion of the survey and results was recently published in the Marine Professional magazine - read the full article here. 

The IMarEST offers free e-learning materials to provide an introduction to professional development and aims to help build capacity and develop the knowledge and skills of marine professionals. In particular, introductory materials are available for the role of Professional Development, and Hydrography. Further courses are offered by the MLA College in a variety of topics and levels. 

• Introduction to Professional Development. This e-learning bundle has been produced by the IMarEST to provide you with an introduction to professional development, and how it helps marine professionals progress their careers. The materials cover; Recognition for marine professionals; Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for marine professionals; and Gaining Chartered Status with the IMarEST. 
• Introduction to Hydrography. This e-learning bundle has been produced for you by the IMarEST and MLA College, and is offered for free to help build capacity and develop the knowledge and skills of marine professionals. The materials cover; Coastal and Marine Activities; Maritime Zones and the Law of the Sea (including base lines, boundaries, and disputes); Improvements in Navigation; Safety of Life at Sea and International Safety Management; and An introduction to data management.

EcoShape are hosting a webinar series which discusses ‘Upscaling Building with Nature together’. Different webinars being together experts with hands- on project experience will explain and discuss with you six enablers that are critical to make a building with nature project successful. The webinars will be split into 3 sections including; SETTING the stage which will respectively discuss capacity building and institutional embedding; TAKING the stage which will discuss how to use technology and system knowledge and implement adaptive management, maintenance and monitoring; and SHARING the stage which will discuss how to involve and engage with stakeholders through a Multi-stakeholder approach.

Individual webinars are listed in our events page, and recordings of the webinars will be made available on the EcoShape website here. 

The Oceans of Knowledge conference hosted in November 2019 which explored 2 key themes; Addressing challenges in high growth ocean industries; and Future direction of emerging technologies and the role of ocean information. 

Conference presentations are available to watch on YouTube here. 

A new article in the Marine Professional discusses a recent announcement from the Norwegian government of intentions to reduce emissions from domestic shipping and fishing vessels by half by 2030 and to promote the development of zero- and low-emission solutions for all vessel categories.

You can read the full article here.

About the IMarEST

The IMarEST is The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology; the international professional body and learned society for all marine professionals. IMarEST has a registered charity status and is the first Institute to bring together marine engineers, scientists and technologists into one international multi-disciplinary professional body. The IMarEST has categories of membership for everyone with an interest in the marine world, and is the largest marine organisation of its kind with a worldwide membership of over 20,000 individuals based in over 120 countries.

IMarEST’s objectives

Our mission is to work with the global marine community to promote scientific development of marine engineering, science and technology, providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and practices and upholding the status, standards and expertise of marine professionals worldwide. The IMarEST aims to;

• Provide input as an NGO to the International Maritime organisation and other intergovernmental organisations as appropriate.
• Influence the maritime industry, academia and governments to identify and address important issues in the marine industry.
• Undertake activities that promote the maritime profession to a wider society.
• Encourage continued professional development and promote scientific development of marine engineering, science and technology via our branches and other networks.
• Reaffirm the IMarEST as the global body of choice for all ocean professionals – a professional network for life.

IMarEST’s aspirations for Navigating a Changing Climate

Awareness of climate change is generally high amongst the IMarEST’s membership, and the Institute's position on climate change is available here. The Institute’s aspirations for Navigating a Changing Climate are to contribute to raising awareness and work together with the partners of the coalition to help the inland and maritime navigation infrastructure sector respond to climate change. By furthering understanding, providing targeted technical support, and building capacity, the coalition’s ‘Navigating a Changing Climate’ initiative will encourage the owners, operators and users of waterborne transport infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to low carbon maritime and inland navigation infrastructure, and to act urgently to strengthen resilience and improve preparedness to adapt to the changing climate. As a learned society, IMarEST supports and inspires the development of best practice in marine engineering, science and technology, addressing the needs of society at sea and making a positive difference in line with our Corporate Vision of a world where marine resources and activities are sustained, managed and developed for the benefit of humanity.

A new article in the Marine Engineers Messenger discusses a proposal from BIMCO to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which calls to regulate propulsion power of ships in order to sustain the greenhouse gas savings already achieved through slower steaming.

You can read the full article here.

A new article in the Marine Engineers Messenger discusses a new report by the Maritime Strategies International (MSI) consultancy on behalf of the European Climate Foundation that considers a study of radical decarbonisation effects on shipping.

The report focusses on the consequences for shipping markets of a major shift in energy consumption away from hydrocarbons and towards renewables and biofuels. Decarbonisation efforts to address climate change will have radical implications, if the Paris Agreement goals are met, the fossil fuel cargo base that shipping serves would undergo an aggressive and prolonged transformation.

You can read the full article here.