DNV's Second Forum on Energy Efficiency and Technologies in the field of marine decarbonization was held with the participation of ship owners, technology providers, academics, and DNV experts. The aim of this forum was to examine the practical readiness of decarbonization measures and energy efficiency in the maritime transport industry.
The Importance of Energy Efficiency in Marine Decarbonization
Jason Stefanatos, the General Manager of Decarbonization at DNV Maritime, emphasized the importance of continuing energy efficiency in the transition of the shipping industry at the beginning of the forum. He stated, "While alternative fuels play a vital role in decarbonization, improving energy efficiency is one of the immediate and attractive opportunities for ship owners." He also raised challenges related to identifying solutions that provide measurable value under real operational conditions.
Analysis of Retrofit Projects and New Technologies
Andrei Kafeldt, Senior Engineer at DNV's Ship Performance Center, presented his findings from over 180 retrofit projects in the ship bow sector. Additionally, Katerina Prifti, HSQE and Review Manager at Lakaridis, shared the company's practical experience in assessing wind-assisted shipping technologies. These discussions showed that fuel savings and payback periods are highly dependent on ship design, operational profile, and business model.
Compliance Economics and Infrastructure Challenges
Compliance economics was also a key topic at this forum. George Krizis, Technical Director at Neptune Group, examined LNG and biomethane as part of long-term decarbonization strategies. He discussed the impact of fuel accessibility, greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle, and FuelEU Maritime compliance considerations on investment decisions and fleet economics.
Infrastructure Challenges and Valid Emission Data
Lefteris Kouklopoulos, Regional Decarbonization Specialist at DNV Maritime, addressed the readiness of shore power plants and the infrastructure challenges that hinder broader adoption of this technology. While the use of this technology is increasing in certain ship sectors, access to shore power connections remains limited in many ports.
Valid and verified data on greenhouse gas emissions was also discussed as another key topic. Konstantinos Kordas, Performance Engineer at Navarone S.A, outlined his company's energy efficiency strategy at the fleet level. Additionally, Vasilios Petousis from Seanergy Maritime Holdings and his colleagues from DNV Maritime emphasized the role of verified data in supporting regulatory reporting and operational decision-making.
Innovative Technologies and the Future of Marine Decarbonization
The forum also examined technologies that are still in the early stages of adoption. Dimitris Koutsafitis, Technical Product Manager for CCS at ERMA FIRST, and Chara Georgopoulou, Marine R&D and Consulting Manager in Greece at DNV Maritime, reviewed the opportunities and challenges associated with carbon capture on ships. In conclusion, Professor George Dimopoulos from the National Technical University of Athens examined the conditions under which nuclear power may be applicable for specific shipping applications.
Lefteris Kouklopoulos stated after the forum: "Throughout the sessions, one consistent conclusion emerged: marine decarbonization will not be achieved with a single fuel or technology. The immediate task for ship owners is to establish an accurate baseline of performance, select appropriate measures for each ship and trade, test less mature solutions, and validate results before transitioning from individual projects to fleet-wide implementation."
Read more: Diversis Capital Acquires Majority Ownership of Tideworks Technology from Carrix
