The next time you’re on a ferry, pay attention to its movement as it turns—take note of the wind, and the current.
The next time you’re on a ferry, pay attention to its movement as it turns—take note of the wind, and the current. These are all factors being studied by mechanical engineer Zuomin Dong and UVic’s Clean Transportation Research Team as they work to cut down on the environmental impacts of marine vessels in our oceans.
“We are trying to introduce the tools for finding a solution that cuts down emissions, and the negative impact shipping is having on our marine life. And at the same time, we are also trying to help companies to reduce their operational costs by improving fuel efficiency,” Zuomin says.
It’s not just greenhouse gas emissions from the natural gas engine that the team aims to reduce. The underwater noise created by ships affect animals like orcas, impacting their ability to navigate and hunt. Concern about the endangered southern resident orcas deepened after two widely reported whale deaths in 2018.
Dong’s research, which will reduce the environmental impact and costs of marine traffic, is funded in part by a million-dollar donation by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, in conjunction with Seaspan. That funding supports the team’s development of the enabling technology and integrated modelling tools to transition marine vessels to optimized hybrid natural-gas / electric and pure electric propulsion systems.
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Image via University of Victoria.
