By
Rebecca Gibson |
DNV GL has launched a Green Coastal Shipping programme to ensure that Norway will have one of the world’s most environmentally friendly and efficient coastal shipping industries in future.
The Green Coastal Shipping programme has been developed to help implement the Norwegian government’s new maritime strategy and will be a joint effort by several industries, ministries and state departments. It will help the country to achieve both national and global climate goals, reduce air pollution and drive innovation.
“We can achieve this if we want to,” said Remi Eriksen, DNV GL’s deputy group CEO. “There are many examples of incentives driving forward a green shift. The technology is there, but we have to scale up its use considerably in order to maintain our international position.”
The programme also aims to ensure that Norway has the world's most environmentally friendly fleet of coastal vessels. In the future, LNG and battery power are projected to comprise a considerable share of the fuel used by the global fleet. Norway already has a leading position in this field and has a good environmental and business starting point to more broadly implement these new technologies.
“We envisage a fleet of offshore vessels, tankers, cargo, container, bulk and passenger ships, ferries, fishing and aquaculture vessels, tugs and other coastal vessels, run entirely or partly using batteries, LNG or other green fuels,” said Narve Mjøs, who is DNV GL’s director for the Green Coastal Shipping programme. “We want to make Norway a world leader in, and a showcase for, green coastal shipping and to attract international attention.”
Norway’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and 18 other organisations have signed the declaration.
“More ships must use environmentally friendly fuels, such as gas and battery power, and we must see more ships with new energy-efficient designs,” said Tine Sundtoft, the Minister of Climate and Environment. “The green shift in the maritime industry will both resolve environmental challenges and create value.”