Sustainable Shipping Award
Respected International Environmental Award goes to Danish Maritime Initiative.
London 15th July: The organization Sustainable Shipping yesterday announced the winner of its coveted award for the most environmentally friendly shipping imitative. Sustainable Shipping is a leading organization 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 modernize the way they run their businesses, will prosper.
This year’s award winner was the Danish "Green Ship of the Future". The ship developed from an idea which arose during as a collaboration among 15 partners including shipping companies, their suppliers, and several Danish institutions. 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.
- 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 ship owners and industry can work together now to make a difference in this area.
These words come from Hans Otto Holmegaard Kristen, spokesman for the Green Ship of the Future, which will be operated by the Danish Center for Maritime Technology. The Danish Center for Maritime Technology is itself a collaboration between FORCE Technology and DTU.
Green Ship of the Future will present its findings at the “Bright Green” exhibition in December - which runs parallel to the global climate summit to be held in Copenhagen. But this year’s award winner does not want to wait until December. Hans Otto Holmegaard Kristensen continues:
- We have deliberately let our new knowledge "leak" out to industry – and one can already see how some Danish shipping companies are thinking green. We have just started this process, and there is certainly room for improvement. The world must continue to look over its shoulder to Denmark, he concludes with a smile.
2009-07-17 00:00:00