128 Setting a more sustainable course Elly Yates-Roberts highlights some of the ways that organisations in the maritime industry are helping to improve the environmental and operational attributes of cruise ships and ferries The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted the damage that could be caused if global warming reaches 1.5C higher than pre-industrial levels, in a report published in 2018. The warnings are clear – if human consumption of fossilbased fuels and emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) continue at their current levels, our planet will suffer more intense and frequent extreme events, which will lead to drastic negative effects to resources, ecosystems, biodiversity and food security. In reaction to the publication, the International Maritime Organization created a strategy to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050. Many businesses operating within the industry have heeded the call to action. For example, COLUMBIA Shipmanagement has joined forces with maritime service provider Blue Dynamics and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute to develop a digital platform that boosts the operational performance of vessels. The Pangia project – which will launch in July 2023 – will offer users several services, including data management, standardisation, and advanced data analytics and machine learning to identify trends and help with maintenance planning. “COLUMBIA is proud to be working with our partners on this pioneering development of our Performance Optimization Control Room and to be leading the way in ground-breaking projects to promote sustainability, while utilising the very best of technological advancements to protect the environment and deliver cost efficiencies to ship managers and operators,” says Mark O’Neil, CEO of COLUMBIA Group. Partnerships are key for the sustainability initiatives of many organisations. Emissions and energy management firm TecnoVeritas has joined the International Association for Catalytic Control of Ship Emissions to Air to demonstrate the viability of selective catalytic reactor technology in reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from marine engines. Decarbonisation is a top priority for maritime organisations, with many focusing on finding alternative fuels. A 2023 report from the Lloyd’s Register (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub and safety and risk management firm Safetytech Accelerator highlights the importance of using technology to track, verify and assure the carbon intensity of sustainable marine fuels. “The complexity of the marine fuel supply chain, with its diverse production
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