The North Sea Region is the carrier of import and export of freight streams. Over 500.000 people are here employed in the shipping industry and ports, hosting seven large ports, handling 1.000 million tonnes per year. However cargo shipping, using heavy fuel, is one of the main producers of polluting emissions. Commercial shipping is the third largest source of climate effecting toxic emissions after industrial production and road traffic. For that reason decarbonisation transition of the North Sea Region pays much attention to sea transport (see f.i. EMSA).
Having much new sustainable solutions in view combined with a tradition of innovation and ambitions, the North Sea Region seems to be an excellent (windy) living lab for developing and testing zero emission freight sailing solutions. Building an (almost) emission free freight ship today seems to be possible. Alternative propulsion systems have high potentials mentioned here as “hybrid sailing concepts” including wings, kites, electricity, biofuel, a.o. Expertise and opportunities in hybrid sailing concepts is fragmented over different North Sea regions and needs clustering, validation and upgrading. Related to this economic return of sustainable investments in the shipping market needs further research. Investment cycles now limit the capacity of innovation.
The North Sea Region is the carrier of import and export of freight streams. Over 500.000 people are here employed in the shipping industry and ports, hosting seven large ports, handling 1.000 million tonnes per year. However cargo shipping, using heavy fuel, is one of the main producers of polluting emissions. Commercial shipping is the third largest source of climate effecting toxic emissions after industrial production and road traffic. For that reason decarbonisation transition of the North Sea Region pays much attention to sea transport (see f.i. EMSA).
Having much new sustainable solutions in view combined with a tradition of innovation and ambitions, the North Sea Region seems to be an excellent (windy) living lab for developing and testing zero emission freight sailing solutions. Building an (almost) emission free freight ship today seems to be possible. Alternative propulsion systems have high potentials mentioned here as “hybrid sailing concepts” including wings, kites, electricity, biofuel, a.o. Expertise and opportunities in hybrid sailing concepts is fragmented over different North Sea regions and needs clustering, validation and upgrading. Related to this economic return of sustainable investments in the shipping market needs further research. Investment cycles now limit the capacity of innovation.