Hempel has announced that it has joined the Getting to Zero Coalition, a multi-stakeholder group that aims to see the introduction of commercially viable zero emission shipping vessels by 2030
In 2018, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by at least 50 per cent by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.
Hempel has committed to being a vital player in achieving this goal.
Christian Ottosen, group vice-president, head of Marine Business at Hempel, comments: "As a company, we have long played a key role in helping the shipping industry reduce emissions through our hydrodynamic hull coatings, such as Hempaguard MaX and our SHAPE propulsion efficiency measuring services. When creating ZEVs, we need to consider all aspects of design and operation – not just the fuel source – and our coatings are one of the most important components to achieve this reduction."
Launched in September, Hempaguard MaX reduces a vessel's drag in the water, which cuts fuel consumption and associated emissions. It is based on Hempaguard X7, a hull coating that has been applied to over 1,500 vessels since its launch in 2013, enabling those vessels to collectively reduce their annual fuel bill by US$500mn and cut annual CO2 emissions by more than 10mn tonnes.
"The Getting to Zero Coalition is an extremely important initiative," says Christian Ottosen. "Global trade – and with it global shipping – continues to grow. It is no longer enough to focus just on improving a vessel's energy and operational efficiency. We need a totally new approach to vessel design, especially around propulsion – and we're proud to be part of this very important initiative," said Christian Ottosen.
A partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, Friends of Ocean Action and the World Economic Forum, is bringing together industry stakeholders to work towards having commercially viable ZEVs operating along deep-sea trade routes by 2030.
