MarChain
Transportation of people and goods across the water is often both fast and energy efficient. Since shipping is international, it is also to a large extent regulating by international agreements. The challenges are many. The development of Baltic Sea Region into one of the most innovative areas of maritime development is visionary, but not unrealistic. MarChain, one of the pilots of BSR Stars, was an important initiative to enhance and accelerate development. In order to decrease vessel SOx emissions, several regulations have been developed both globally and in the EU.
To comply with these standards, a ship owner can use low-sulphur marine diesel oil (already available), install sulphur abatement technologies (a scrubber) on board of the vessel, or use alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), or bio-fuels. The most obvious effect of these regulations is an increased fuel price (EMSA 2010). The fuel price is expected to raise the overall costs of maritime transports and freight rates between 25-40%. A big challenge – but at the same time a possibility for new innovations in the Baltic Sea Region.
Maritime collaboration
Alternative fuels, modal shift with ports as hubs and lightweight structures at sea. By the MarChain cooperation, five new projects have been developed.
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where needs and requirements are mapped to find solutions for more efficient handling of goods at ports
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where new lightweight concepts are being developed for more energy efficient transportation in major cities around the Baltic Sea, the Baltic Sea Region archipelagos but also in the service and maintenance for the offshore industry
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where cooperation in technology and infrastructure for new fuels has been designed
MarChain has provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, project development and business meetings for companies, academia as well as public representatives. Over 100 SME have participating in activities. Among these over 30 are internationally active. A strong research and innovation node has been developed and 11 multinational companies have been engaged. Three calls for tenders have been applied and one of these, focused on R&D was a winning concept. The need to exchange experiences, develop skills and find partners fordevelopment and innovation projects has initiated a European network for lightweight structures at sea.
The partners in MarChain were Klaipeda Science and Technology Park (Lithuania), WTSH (Business Development and Technology Transfer Corporation of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany), Maritime Academy of Gdynia (Poland), Marine Systems Institute at Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia), Latvia Logistic Association (Latvia), Turku University (Finland) and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden (Sweden).
The associated partners in MarChain were Maritime Development Center of Europe (Denmark), Westpomeranian maritime Cluster Association (Poland), The Pomeranian Sea and Vistula Cathment Basin Cluster Association (Poland), Nordland Research Institute (Norway), Vestfjords Regional development Agency (Norway) and the Maritime cluster Programme (Finland).
The need to exchange experiences, develop skills and find partners for development and innovation projects within the lightweight area, has driven the initiation of a European network for lightweight structures at sea. The platform will be used for project initiatives, knowledge exchange and the communication of possibilities for lightweight design as a driver for cost efficient use of resources. Please check out our film here.