Challenges for shipowners to be debated in Hamburg

The organising team reminds us that this is recognised as the longest established and most important and informative seminar for the global shipping industry. The conference brings industry professionals together to network, discuss topical issues and exchange information and ideas.

The title of the 2010 conference, the 32nd event, is 'Clean and efficient ships for challenging times'. Following an extremely successful sell-out event in 2009 held in Copenhagen, the Conference will again be supported by BIMCO, ECSA, IBIA, and SEAaT, this time with the support of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR). The debate will focus on key topics affecting the global shipping industry, with particular emphasis on energy saving and environmental issues.

Aalborg Industries is the gold sponsor, with Castrol Marine (gala dinner) Westfalia, MTU, Rolls-Royce and Bureau Veritas also sponsoring the event. To date, IMO, Infineum, Castrol Marine, KRAL, Kyma, Wärtsilä, Future Pipe Industries and Kittiwake will all be taking product display areas and delegates will have the opportunity to visit their stands during the coffee and lunch breaks.

Not surprisingly with Hamburg being their home town, the VDR is being very active in its support of the Conference with Uta Ordemann, managing director of VDR, making the introduction and Max Johns, director public relations, VDR, chairing the event for the two days. In addition, Joachim Konrad, deputy chairman of the executive board of shipowner Hamburg Süd will give the keynote address.

Uta Ordemann commented “VDR is pleased to support the Motorship Propulsion & Emissions Conference as this is an excellent platform at which the industry can network whilst gaining valuable information.” 

This year, the highly successful shipowners’ debate is entitled ‘Reducing emissions to zero’ and will feature presentations from Hans-Heinrich Conzen, managing director, TT-Line; Christian Suhr, managing director, Ahrenkiel Ship Management; Dr Pierre Sames of Germanischer Lloyd; and John Aitken, secretary-general of SEAaT, followed by what will no doubt be a colourful debate.

Those attending the conference will include: marine engineers, marine superintendents, technical managers, maritime lecturers/professors, research team leaders, CEOs and MDs, shipowners, ship operators and managers, shipowners' technical departments who deal with fuel and lubricant issues, fuel and lubricant manufacturers and suppliers and individuals and organisations who are involved in emission control technologies.

The conference will take place at the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski, with preferential room rates arranged for delegates (see booking form).

The organisers point out that networking opportunities at the conference will be plentiful, not least at the gala dinner sponsored by Castrol Marine. The dinner will be held at the new International Maritime Museum which is housed in Hamburg’s oldest preserved warehouse. The museum gives spectacular views of the harbour and is home to what is claimed to be the world’s largest private maritime collection. A particular highlight of the evening will be the appearance of a ‘Castrol Ambassador’, described as a “winning performer from the world of football” to mark Castrol’s involvement in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. As well as being able to tour the museum, diner guests will have the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with this event’s ‘ambassador’.

Packed programme

The discussions on the two days will visit a number of topics of particular relevance in the current difficult conditions. Increased efficiency is a theme running through the programme, not just from engines, but from propellers, hulls, and all aspects of ship design. Even something as apparently mundane as the choice of material for pipework can have a surprisingly large impact on overall efficiency and the environment, as at least one speaker will hope to prove.

The conference will get under way with a keynote address given by Joachim Konrad of Hamburg Süd, which will be followed immediately by a session on fuels. With COP15 proving inconclusive on carbon emissions, attention is returning to the question of sulphur content. Ian Adams of IBIA will look at the latest regulations, and Ian Crutchley of Innospec will examine additive technology to improve combustion. Natural gas is looking ever more attractive as an alternative fuel, with few emissions concerns, but there are safety and application considerations, which will be the subject of a presentation from Jacques Desdouits of Bureau Veritas.

MEPC 60 will have taken place at IMO by the time of the conference, and Neils Bjorn Mortensen of BIMCO will look at the outcome, while Matthias Plötzke will present VDR’s view of an international greenhouse gas fund.

Looking at the overall efficiency of ships, Dr Pierre Sames of GL will look at the future for container vessels and Martin Briddon of JF Mimic will examine the efficiency benefits of planned maintenance.

Exhaust gas after-treatment looks like an almost inevitable fact of life for large ships in the future, and more and more systems are reaching the market. Scrubber pioneer Chris Leigh-Jones of Hamworthy Krystallon will take an overview of the first systems in use supplied by his, and other, companies. Specific systems will then be looked at in detail, with Ralf Jürgens of Couple Systems outlining the first dry maritime scrubber, Lars Munch Antonsen of Aalborg Industries giving the results from a particularly large scrubber installation by his company, and Aslak Suopanki of Wärtsilä looking at his company’s various after-treatment solutions.

Lubrication is a hot topic at present, thanks to the effects of lower sulphur fuels, and Louise Audoire of Infineum will look at cylinder lubricant chemistry, Paul Thomas Reischman of ExxonMobil will show how asphaltene contamination detection can help control oil consumption, Matthias Winkler of Kittiwake will outline real-time oil condition monitoring and Jon Pearce of Castrol Marine will explain environmentally-friendly marine lubricant technology.

Propeller technology starts off the second day. Feathering propellers for large ships is a comparatively new development explained by Tobias Huuva of Berg Propulsion, and Converteam’s Lionel Julliand will look at compact pump jet pod propulsion for ferries. Alternative propeller lubrication will be dealt with by Ivan Ristic of Merkel Freudenberg Fluidtechnic and Dirk Fabry from Klüber Lubrication. Finally, Jens Ring Nielsen of MAN Diesel will look at the benefits from retrofitting more efficient propellers to existing ships.

Diesel electric plant continues to offer benefits for specialised ship types, and these will be reflected in the presentations on the use of soft starters by Jörg Westhoff, Igel Elektronik, and on hybrid diesel electric plant by Harald Røstbø of Rolls-Royce.

The key to low emissions is the ship’s engines. Andreas Wiesmann from Wärtsilä looks at bringing pre-2000 engines up to IMO standards, while MAN Diesel’s Lars Byndum explains how his company is achieving the IMO standards with its large engines.

The final paper session looks at the impact of latest environmental demands on ship design, building and equipment, with presentations from Marc Groenewoud of Future Pipe (reducing costs with composite pipework), John Willsher of International Paint (environmental benefits of foul release coatings) and Christoph Schneider from Kral (impact of low sulphur fuel on pumps and flow meters).

The event concludes with the panel debate mentioned previously, which promises to provide a fitting end to a comprehensive and thought-provoking programme.

The full programme, and booking form, is enclosed with this issue. Please note that the programme and details may be subject to minor alteration.