The Oslo-based NGO Bellona Foundation has launched a three-year partnership with Dutch Damen Shipyards Group aimed at exploring and developing concept vessels for the future.
The agreement was officially signed on March 18 during an industry event in Stavanger.
Under the partnership, the NGO and Damen plan to work towards reducing the impact on the climate of a wide range of commercial and leisure vessels, as well as fleets employed by the aquaculture industry.
“One of Bellona’s goals is to make the ships of the future independent of fossil fuels. This partnership will provide us with new knowledge on innovative shipping construction that will contribute towards achieving that objective,” said Frederic Hauge, founder and president of The Bellona Foundation.
“Today the global shipping industry emits large amounts of CO2, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other gases harmful to the climate and environment, and the European fleet is large and in need of renewal. The next three years of partnership with Damen will make us better equipped to handle the challenges, both domestically and internationally.”
“We have a strong focus on sustainability and the vision of each organisation complements the other in terms of environmental awareness. At Damen the focus will be on creating alternative solutions that contribute to reducing harmful maritime emissions into both the air and the water. This will go hand in hand with initiatives to develop cost-effective efficiencies through reduced consumption of potentially harmful inputs such as fuel, paint and lubricating oil,” added Damen’s Remko Hottentot, Sales Manager Norway, stationed at Damen’s Norway Office in Stavanger.