REPRESENTATIVES from the maritime industry, government and the energy industry gathered on Wednesday (12 October) to discuss the way forward for decarbonisation.
The event was the second in a series of summits, organised by Maritime Industry Australia, focusing on energy through a maritime-industry lens.
Through the summit series, MIAL said it aims to help build networks of key stakeholders in the maritime and energy industries – as well as government agencies and departments. The idea being that these networks would foster collaboration and co-ordination to move the maritime industry down the decarbonisation path.
This most recent summit comprised four sessions that continued throughout the day, with delegates delved into the details, analysing how the transition will work.
Scaling Green Hydrogen Cooperative Research Centre interim CEO Paul Hodgson, speaking during one of the sessions, pointed to Australian ports as natural, and essential, hubs for decarbonisation.
“If we’re looking at maritime decarbonisation, and lets look at how the maritime industry can be part of the wider conversation about general decarbonisation, all of the ingredients for decarbonisation both domestically and at sea congregate around ports,” he said.
“The maritime sector is critical to Australia’s decarbonisation.”
In another presentation, Captain Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention at Standard Club discussed the role P&I clubs are to play in facilitating the energy transition.
“What our job is, as a P&I club, is to look at the risks that industry take by using alternative fuels, and work out how we can be there to insure those risks,” he said.
There were myriad other in depth presentations, covering the pilot export of hydrogen to Japan on the Suiso Frontier – and the future of the initiative; the economics and history of biofuel; how a ferry company decided on a net-zero strategy for a newbuild; a deep dive into how engine technology for new fuels is tested and progressed; and much more.
The Sydney Maritime Decarbonisation Summit was sponsored by Wartsila, CSL and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
The first event in the series took place in Melbourne in April, and there are more planned for other cities around Australia in the coming months.
