EDITORIAL
3 / 2022
GREEN WAVE RISING
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 .
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Petri Charpentier
PROJECT MANAGER Paul Charpentier
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Saara Nikkinen
GRAPHIC DESIGN Riitta Yli-Öyrä
CONTRIBUTORS Sami J . Anteroinen Ari Mononen
COVER PHOTO Tallink Silja
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PETRI CHARPENTIER www . seatec . fi / magazine
4 seatec 3 / 2022