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.”
Andreas Ullrich, Global Market Leader, Passenger Ships & Ferries, for Bureau Veritas says that
they help clients comply with environmental regulations, implement green solutions onboard,
measure decarbonization progress, and more.
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.
Janne Paananen, Marine Chief Executive, Finland and Baltic States, for Bureau Veritas says
that they want to support the development of sustainable fuels and there’s certainly a lot of
exciting innovation in the field.
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
BUREAU VERITAS SERVICES FOR THE MARINE AND
OFFSHORE INDUSTRY:
- Development and implementation of rules for new fuels
- Sustainable origins of alternative fuels
- LNG expertise and project support
- Electrification of sea-going vessels
- Development of infrastructure for new fuels
- Onshore & offshore wind lifecycle solutions
- Engineering services for sustainability performance
- Green construction at shipyards
- Maritime pollution prevention
- Responsible fishing practices
- Safety of crew and passengers
- Onboard health, safety, and hygiene protocols
