OSLO: Five pilot projects have been chosen for development as part of Norway’s Green Coastal Shipping Programme, including a green port project with minimal carbon footprint and hybrid LNG/battery vessels.
The programme aims to encourage the research and implementation of green technology concepts in the country’s shipping sector and is supported by 26 partners from the Norwegian maritime industry including DNV GL.
Under the programme, a low-energy-consumption port with a minimal carbon footprint will be developed. A number of ‘green’ technologies will be used to achieve this including electric heavy-duty vehicles and cranes. The green port will also be equipped with smart gates, offer cold ironing services and charging stations for plug-in hybrid ships.
“When we launched the Green Coastal Shipping Programme, we said we wanted to make Norway a world showcase for green coastal shipping. With these five pioneering pilot projects we are well on our way,” said Narve Mjøs, programme director.
Risavika Harbour in Stavanger will take the lead in the green port project, developing the technical concept, undertaking a cost/benefit analysis, calculating the environmental footprint and presenting a plan for further development of the concept.
The other four pilot projects include an optimised hybrid propulsion system by ABB and the Cargo Freighters’ Association; the conversion of a cargo carrier into a cost-efficient LNG carrier featuring a hybrid LNG/battery propulsion solution by project owners Øytank Bunkerservice and the Norwegian Gas Association; the use of batteries and volatile organic compounds (VOC) to fuel tankers and therefore prevent emissions; and a cost-effective containership with a plug-in LNG/battery hybrid propulsion system designed by Nor Lines. The vessel will be designed to ply short sea routes with no emissions during port sailing or operations.
