“Green Ship of the Future” has received the International Environmental Award from the organisation Sustainable Shipping for the most environmentally friendly shipping initiative. Sustainable Shipping is a leading organisation dedicated to promoting the sustainable use of the sea.
Among the judges was Dr. Simon Walmsley of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who says: “If we are to ensure the survival of our world then we must change the way we behave. No industry can resist making these changes. The industries that accept this challenge, and see that the climate threat offers them opportunities to modernise the way they run their businesses, will prosper.”
“Green Ship of the Future” is a project established by Aalborg Industries, MAN Diesel, A. P. Møller - Mærsk A/S and Odense Steel Shipyard with the primary objective of demonstrating and developing new green technologies, with significant reductions of emissions. Today, the collaboration has 15 partners including shipping companies, their suppliers and several Danish universities including DTU (the Technical University of Denmark).
The challenge and objective of “Green Ship of the Future” is to reduce industrial CO2 emissions by 30% and nitrogen oxide and sulphur by 90%. The initiative uses existing technologies and also develops its own new technologies.
Spokesman for “Green Ship of the Future”, Hans Otto Holmegaard Kristensen says: “Although shipping impacts the environment less than other methods of transportation, we nevertheless have a major responsibility in this area. Denmark has made itself a leading maritime nation and therefore we must help lead the effort to reduce the environmental impact of shipping. Green Ship of the Future shows how shipowners and industry can work together now to make a difference in this area.”
“Green Ship of the Future” will present its findings at the “Bright Green” exhibition on 12 to 13 DEC 09 in FORUM Copenhagen. The “Bright Green” exhibition runs parallel to the global climate summit to be held in Copenhagen.
Jan Vestergaard Olsen, CEO of Aalborg Industries A/S, says: “The partnership of “Green Ship of the Future” enables us to make a strong collective effort reducing CO2 emissions and air pollution from ships. We are pleased that “Green Ship of the Future” has been awarded with the much-coveted International Environmental Award and look forward to being a contributor to the project also in the future.”
