Lloyd's List, April 9, 2008 Wednesday - THE NORWEGIAN government's industrial strategy published last October has taken a fundamentally 'green' stanceon all five of the main challenges itsays face the maritime sector, writes Jerry Frank. Although the task of creating an environmentally sustainable maritime industry is just one of the hurdles that the ministry has set, the other four 'challenges' set by the coalition are all underpinned by a deep green agenda.
Lloyd's List, April 9, 2008 Wednesday - THE NORWEGIAN government's industrial strategy published last October has taken a fundamentally 'green' stanceon all five of the main challenges itsays face the maritime sector, writes Jerry Frank.
Although the task of creating an environmentally sustainable maritime industry is just one of the hurdles that the ministry has set, the other four 'challenges' set by the coalition are all underpinned by a deep green agenda.
Those other areas in which the ministry has identified the need to promote the cause of environmental shipping include globalisation and national policy, maritime competence or training, maritime research and innovation and short sea shipping.
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Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Dag Terje Andersen says: "The government's vision is that Norway will continue to be a world-leading maritime nation. The Norwegian maritime industry will provide the most innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for the future".
As well as the new tonnage tax scheme and continuing the net wage scheme for seafarers, the government has put aside NKr3m ($594,000) to market the Norwegian International Ship Register.
When the new coalition government made its so-called 'Soria Moria' declaration it latched on to the Norwegian maritime sector as one of five policy areas to be given particular attention and effort.
"The maritime cluster is more complete in Norway than compared to many other maritime nations, and this provides advantageous conditions for specialised Norwegian maritime competence and a potential for innovation," the government said when announcing its strategy last year.
One example of this work will support the development of NOx reducing technologies, with state-funded participants The Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway working alongside private business to develop a fuel cell low emission ship.
Started in 2003 to develop fuel cell technology for the industry, the project known as FellowShip includes class society Det Norske Veritas, shipowner Eidesvik Offshore, ship's architects Vik-Sandvik and fuel cell integrator Wärtsilä Ship Power Automation. With the programme scheduled for completion by the end of this year, the technology developed through FellowShip aims at zero emissions of NOx, Sox and particles, and a halving of CO emissions compared to conventional diesel engine technology.
