Environment

EDITORIAL

Blue ocean strategy requires green core

Marine industry is turning more low-carbon and future-proof by the minute – at least in Finland. The Finnish marine industry is well-known for its green solutions to reduce the emissions of all things marine, but lately, the sustainability angle has become, well, a lot more than just an angle. Sustainability is in the core of the entire industry.

The sustainability push is spearheaded, at least in part, by the Finnish Marine Industries’ ResponSea initiative which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of shipping and shipbuilding, continuous development of the industry’s companies as fair employers, monitoring the sustainability of the delivery chain and enhancing circular economy and lifecycle efficiency in all actions.

ResponSea encourages the companies of a rather heterogeneous industry to define their own commitments for accomplishing the goals of sustainable development – and, at the same time, to develop the companies’ green operations. In addition, the program monitors the industry’s sustainability progress.

Major industry players are certainly doing their share in the green transition. In June, Wärtsilä Corporation opened its new technology centre, the Sustainable Technology Hub, (STH) in Vaasa, Finland. The new €250 million centre contributes to efforts to advance the global decarbonisation of marine and energy by fostering innovation, collaboration, and the development of green technologies using sustainable fuels and digital technologies.

Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä, remarks that by taking advantage of innovative technologies that already exist today, we can speed up the development of future-proof engines capable of running on sustainable fuels. Wärtsilä is eager to demonstrate that a carbon neutral future is achievable.

In fact, Wärtsilä already has engines operating on carbon neutral fuels. This year the company released its Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engine to the market, and in 2023 an ammonia concept will be ready. A hydrogen concept is expected to be available in 2025.

Another recent, green example comes courtesy of Steerprop who announced a major order in August. Steerprop will supply the complete propulsion package for a state-of-the-art Wind Installation Vessel (WIV) for Sembcorp Marine Ltd. Singapore-based Sembcorp is building the vessel for Maersk Supply Service of Denmark.

The order builds upon Steerprop’s extensive track record in delivering fitfor- purpose solutions to the offshore renewables sector.

The company’s scope includes six of Steerprop’s ducted L-drive azimuth propulsors with an output power of 4,500 kW and two 900 kW Steerprop Tunnel Thrusters for dynamic positioning, manoeuvring, and transit operations.

Sustainable innovations are no longer niche nor marginal – let the green winds blow!

PETRI CHARPENTIER