Consulting
Environment

Wanted: Sustainable Seas

Bureau Veritas is supporting marine industry players to fully embrace the green transition

photo: PEXELS

The biggest challenge facing the marine industry right now is the quest for sustainability. Many operators are already taking important steps towards achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050, implementing for example supply chain sustainability programs and waste-to-energy initiatives and pursuing alternative fuels.

Andreas Ullrich, Global Market Leader, Passenger Ships & Ferries, for Bureau Veritas says that classification societies are very keen on supporting the green transition.

“In a sense, sustainability is a part of everything we do,” he says, adding that sustainability concerns must be considered over the entire lifecycle of every asset, from concept to decommissioning, recycling, and beyond. A more holistic approach is needed to shape a better, more sustainable, maritime world.

As a classification society, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore works with industry players across the maritime industry, from offshore operators to ship owners and port authorities. According to Andreas Ullrich, the company is committed to reducing marine industry’s environmental impact, while supporting stakeholders through their sustainability journey.

“We help clients comply with environmental regulations, implement green solutions onboard, measure decarbonization progress, and more,” he lists.

REINVENTING FUELS

A key part of the new “green push” is the emergence of more sustainable fuels. Bureau Veritas has developed industry-first rules for ammonia as fuel, and new rules for methanol and wind propulsion systems, with rules for hydrogen to follow.

“Our rules for methanol came out in July 2022, and we’re presently working on hydrogen rules,” confirms Ullrich.

Janne Paananen, Marine Chief Executive, Finland and Baltic States, for Bureau Veritas, points out that composing rules for various up-and-coming fuels is a major priority for the company.

“We want to support the development of sustainable fuels and there’s certainly a lot of exciting innovation in the field. We are committed to contributing, in a big way, to the ongoing green transition in the marine industries,” says Paananen.

BEYOND LNG

Bureau Veritas is already playing a key role in the development of LNG as fuel for large cruise ships, with classification of vessels under construction. The company is also providing regulatory expertise and design assessment for the installation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology as a demonstrator onboard the MSC World Europa, a low-emission cruise ship to be delivered in October 2022.

“MSC World Europe is an exciting opportunity to test new technology. We are also working to support several upcoming new builds with modified designs,” says Andreas Ullrich.

Looking even further forward, Bureau Veritas is supporting the development of wind propulsion technologies, for example an R&D initiative by Chantiers de l’Atlantique named Ecorizon.

“That involves a new sail ship design with fixed sails and we’re proud to be a partner in such an ambitious venture,” says Ullrich, who believes that a “renaissance for sails ships” may well be in the cards in the coming years and decades.

EYE ON SHORE POWER

In addition to boosting sustainability upon the waves, there’s work to be done on dry land, too. The European Commission’s Fit for 55 program – intended to reduce the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 55% – stipulates that by 2030 all container and passenger ships must connect to shore power for port calls of over two hours.

“In order to support this transition, we are providing certification services for the conversion of vessels to electric shore power,” says Ullrich, while noting that it’s important to secure green energy at ports, and make sure that availability does not become an issue.

“This can become difficult if you have to service, say, three cruise ships at the same time.”

HELP THE INDUSTRY BOUNCE BACK

While the sustainability focus is clearly here to stay, the marine industry has been also dealing with ramifications of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Bureau Veritas came up with a specific ‘Restart your business’ program for the cruise sector in response to the global pandemic, with an aim to facilitate operators’ return to cruising while protecting passengers and crew with strict safety protocols.

“The service can be used in conjunction with Bureau Veritas’ Safeguard label to provide reassurance to passengers,” explains Ullrich.

Carnival, the world’s largest leisure travel company, is one of many operators that have already taken advantage of this service, entrusting Bureau Veritas with health and safety services.

SAFETY COMES FIRST – STILL

According to Ullrich, safety of passengers and crew is paramount in all marinerelated activity, in any case.

“We always have safety in mind, no matter what” he says.

Also cyber security is a rising concern – for example, how to make sure that ships don’t get hit by modern-day data pirates. With the emergence of autonomous shipping, there’s also the risk of ships being hijacked remotely.

“We have composed rules also for autonomous shipping and are heavily engaged to making sure it’s effective and secure.”

KEEP ON LEARNING

From hi-tech fuels to robot ships – a lot of the things that classification societies are dealing with sound a bit like science fiction. But how does one keep up to date with all these developments? – Ullrich says that the experts at Bureau Veritas can’t know ”everything from everything,” but the company prides itself in its knowledge of the latest solutions and technologies – and is always eager to see what’s lurking around the corner.

“We are improving and modifying our in-house training to better fit the changing times, and our people want to keep learning more and more,” Ullrich says.

RECRUIT THE BEST TALENT

The same ideology is reflected in the company’s recruiting: Bureau Veritas is on the look-out for curious minds that have a good handle on technology and who are keen on expanding their expertise with the organization.

Janne Paananen says that newcomers receive tailor-made training program that will help them to hit the ground running.

“After the initial training program, our surveyors go through continuous training all through their careers,” he says.

Ullrich and Paananen are convinced that when it comes to solving the marine challenges of the future, you need futureproof workforce, too.

“Listening to the younger generations is one key to success in this regard,” says Ullrich.

by: Sami J. Anteroinen
photos: Bureau Veritas