The decommissioning and scrapping of old vessels is a notoriously dangerous and environmentally disruptive industry. Bangladesh is central to this industry, and cost-effectiveness for the approximately 150 yards breaking down vessels often comes at the expense of regulatory compliance. The Bangladesh government enacted the Ship Recycling Act in 2018 to comply with the Hong Kong International Convention, but only one yard (PHP Family) has made changes to comply in the past two years, with only three other yards (Khawja Steel, SN Corporation and Arefin Enterprise) trying to achieve those standards.

India, China and Turkey represent other competitive markets for shipbreaking, with higher rates of compliance, and due to the lack of environment-friendly yards, Bangladesh is also failing to reduce workplace deaths at the yards, with 149 reported deaths on-site from workplace accidents in the past decade.

The investment and foresight required for sustainable shipyard operations should come under close scrutiny as Pacific Island Nations seek to modernize and expand shipyard facilities and operations to meet domestic/intra-regional needs. 

This means ensuring all the activities of recycling a scrap ship take place in a ship-breaking yard. The yard may be certified "Green" by the IMO under the Hong Kong International Convention when it complies with IMO regulations and standards to  ensure no pollution occurs in the surrounding land and sea.

 

https://tbsnews.net/economy/industry/green-ship-breaking-yards-still-far-cry-120394 

Posted on - 2020-09-10

Norwegian firms, Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly, are partnering with Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO to provide two electric vessels by 2022, managing their operations thereafter. The fully electric ships are set to replace a fleet of 800 trucks, projecting savings of 5,000 tons of CO₂/year.

This will help link ASKO warehouses on the western side of the Oslo fjord with its distribution center on the eastern side.

The Norwegian Maritime Authorities (NMA) must be satisfied with safety standards before they will issue an approval for operation for the vessels, and will conduct a detailed risk assessment, based on IMO 1455 guidelines with regards to equivalent and alternative designs, new technology, verification, and approval for operation.

The vessels have been designed by Norwegian vessel designer Naval Dynamics and will be constructed at the state-owned Cochin Shipyard in India.

https://www.electrichybridmarinetechnology.com/news/ferries-and-cruises/electric-ro-ro-ferries-for-norwegian-grocer.html 

Posted on - 2020-09-08

Taranaki-based Hiringa Energy company signed a deal with the US-based hydrogen vehicle company, Hyzon Motors, to deploy heavy fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in New Zealand by 2021, planning to construct hydrogen fuelling stations in time for the roll-out of 20 hydrogen fuel cell trucks by 2021, with the intent to have 1500 hydrogen powered trucks operating by 2026.

Eight stations across both the North and South Islands by 2022 would cover about 95% of the country's freight routes, and trials with the first group of trucks, owned by the TR Group, will involve leasing the vehicles to different trucking operators for demonstration. Currently a 25-30% premium exists over equivalent diesel trucks, but creating an economy of scale by bringing in more trucks and increasing hydrogen production volumes will make this exercise more cost-competitive, in addition to realizing emission reductions.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/424970/hydrogen-powered-electric-truck-fuelling-stations-planned-for-2021

Posted on - 2020-09-02