The Finnish maritime industry keeps heading to a more sustainable
direction. In the spring of 2020, the Ministry of Employment and the
Economy launched a new sustainable maritime industry development
program, believing that climate targets and digitalisation will create
significant new demand and business opportunities – as long as the
industry remembers to keep investing in know-how and innovation.
The program will run until the end of 2023.
Director Jarmo Heinonen from Business Finland, who serves
as Chairman of the Steering Group of the development program,
believes that the maritime industry is currently facing major challenges/
opportunities related to climate change and the requirements to reduce
emissions. The national program is essential because it brings together
different actors to promote the competitiveness of the Finnish maritime
industry in a sustainable way.
Finnish maritime industry has always been and continues to be
one of the world’s leading makers of innovative and energy-efficient
ships and ship systems. The goal of the Finnish maritime industry is
to develop solutions geared towards carbon-free and emission-free
shipping. The new program, much in demand by the industry, strongly
supports this goal.
In the spring it was also announced that industrial powerhouse
Wärtsilä will launch a Zero Emission Marine research project with the
aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport by
60% by 2030. In addition, all products in the ecosystem will be carbon
neutral or carbon negative by 2050. The aim is to create an ecosystem
of several different players – already numbering 200 – who will work
together to develop zero-emission shipping solutions.
The project will introduce new fuels which require a wide range
of expertise, from ship and engine design to advanced IT systems – and
many corporate players have already signed up for the undertaking.
The project will develop engine technology and energy and carbon
storage systems for sustainable and carbon-neutral fuels. In addition,
the digital solutions being developed will enable significant reductions
in fuel consumption, which will improve the profitability of new fuels.
This carbon-free ecosystem is being strengthened by industry
organizations, research institutes and universities. In addition, the
intention is to cooperate with other pioneering ventures. For example,
the new Meyer Turku project, which is developing a carbon-neutral
cruise ship, has considerable “kinship” with the Zero Emission Marine
project.
The new “save the world” agenda of leading maritime industry
actors is also good business. The global market has its ways of
rewarding the responsible companies – and punishing those deemed
unsustainable.
Petri Charpentier
