The ship.energy podcast

This week’s ship.energy podcast features Arsenio Domínguez, who began his four-year term of office as the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the start of 2024. The podcast was recorded in the wake of the 81st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and, in conversation with ship.energy’s contributing editor, Mark Williams, Dominguez underscores the importance of the IMO when it comes to establishing global regulations for the shipping sector. Dominguez also gives his views on: • How the shipping industry is progressing towards 2030 and 2040 interim emissions targets, that were adopted in MEPC 80, as well as the 2050 net zero goal. • The Carbon Intensity Indicator. • How the IMO can retain its global primacy in shipping in the face of regional shipping regulations and emissions regimes. • His personal hopes for the industry between now and the end of the decade.

The first ship.energy podcast in April features Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General, SEA Europe (Shipyards and Marine Equipment Association) and CESA . Christophe is a professional lobbyist with an extensive network in the European Institutions, in European lobbying associations and in the shipping and transport industry. He is an expert in European policy and legal matters as well as in shipping-related issues with a particular focus on the following domains: shipping policy; social affairs; state aid; EU competition; security; customs; maritime law, and taxation. He has a Master of Arts degree in East European Studies from Leuven University In conversation with Contributing Editor Mark Williams, Christophe discusses his work at SEA Europe and CESA and offers his views on likely policy developments and how/if EU and IMO policies could align. He also addresses the current fragmentation and complexity of maritime funding in Europe.

Fuel cells take centre stage on this week’s ship.energy podcast. In conversation with Mark Williams, Johan Burgren, Business Manager at PowerCell Sweden AB, discusses their role in the decarbonisation of the RoPax and ferry segments – and their potential for scalability. Johan has been with PowerCell since 2017 and before that worked at Volvo from 1998. PowerCell Sweden AB was founded in 2008 as an industrial spin-out from the Volvo Group. Since 2023, the company’s share (PCELL) has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Johan is also Vice Chairman of the Board of the Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs), a role he has fulfilled since 2021.

This week’s ship.energy podcast guest is Michael Barnard and in conversation with Mark Williams he discusses his work projecting scenarios for decarbonisation 40-80 years into the future and his recent publications around maritime decarbonisation. Whether it's refuelling aviation, grid storage, vehicle-to-grid, or hydrogen demand, his work is based on the fundamentals of physics, economics and human nature, and informed by the decarbonisation requirements and innovations of multiple domains. His leadership positions in North America, Asia and Latin America enhance his global point of view. Michael publishes regularly in Forbes, CleanTechnica and other outlets on decarbonisation, business and policy. He is host of the podcast Redefining Energy - Tech, a channel within the award-winning Redefining Energy ecosystem that European investment bankers Laurent Segalen and Gerard Reid created. His research has been published in books and peer-reviewed journals. He is regularly invited to speak at academic, technical and business conferences as well as corporate events.

In the first ship.energy podcast of 2024, Mark Williams talks to Hans Judek, President and CEO of J.E. Access Ltd. Hans discusses his CAMBIO fuel project in which he works with partners from the Americas, Europe and Asia on the conversion of biowaste from agriculture into a synthetic liquid marine fuel with an asphaltic byproduct which captures and stores carbon, thus making the process carbon negative. In the conversation, he also addresses the relative advantages and disadvantages in using methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and nuclear as energy for shipping’s propulsion. Hans is an entrepreneur with experience over more than four decades in Japan's trade and technology transfer world. Over the last 15 years he has mainly engaged in developing projects for renewable energy production in Asia, India and Africa.

Steven Jones returns to the ship.energy podcast this week to discuss the strategic priorities of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative. As its recently appointed CEO, Steven explains how this multi-stakeholder collective is combining policy research with positive actions that its members can make within key focus areas: Oceans, Communities, People, Transparency, Finance, and Energy. Steven and ship.energy contributing editor Mark Williams discuss the increasing transparency requirement for shipping companies, particularly in regard to fuel decisions and emissions reporting, and the role that digitalisation is having in pushing the transparency agenda. They also address the conversations at COP28, and Steven answers the question, does the shipping industry actually need a phase out date for fossil fuels to focus activity? Steven Jones brings over 30 years of maritime industry expertise to his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI). A former seafarer, Steven has worked across maritime fraud investigations, insurance, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), and maritime security. He leveraged this frontline experience in roles with the UK Government as a specialist in services, ports and technology, and is the Founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index. He is motivated by a passion for the sea and a desire to highlight the vital role that seaborne trade, transport, and infrastructure play in connecting the global economy. He believes in promoting sustainability and innovation to ensure the maritime sector continues enabling prosperity worldwide.

This week’s ship.energy podcast features two guests - Toni Stojcevski, General Manager, Project Sales & Development at Wärtsilä, and Tim Scarbrough, Director of Maritime at Ricardo. In conversation with Mark Williams, Toni and Tim discuss the ‘what, where, and when’ in relation to decarbonisation technology and regulations. The discussion covers engine developments, including for dual-fuelled vessels operating on ammonia or methanol; how marine engine efficiency can support CII compliance, and the future of the internal combustion engine in the shipping sector. Toni Stojcevski is a professional within marine engineering and business development. He has worked in various positions in Wärtsilä for 22 years and has gained a broad experience in the marine industry, especially within the field of medium speed combustion engines and alternative fuels. In 2013 Toni graduated from the Executive MBA on the University of Gothenburg. Between 2014-2016, Toni was responsible for the “Methanol development project” covering new product development, application and market strategy, and the delivery and conversion of the four main engines onboard Stena Germanica, which was the first ship in the world to operate on methanol as a fuel. Tim Scarbrough has directed many high-profile techno-economic and policy studies for policymakers, such as the European Commission and the International Maritime Organization. He’s also worked with individual ports and shipping industry organisations on their journeys to reduce their environmental impacts. His clients value that his expertise comes from policy insights, strategy delivery, and implementation projects, drawing on cross-sectoral insights and an evidence-driven approach. He has expertise in low/zero carbon fuels, their production pathways, energy efficiency / emission abatement techniques, emission inventorying, life cycle assessment and the policies regulating the maritime sector. Above all, he’s passionate about decarbonising the maritime sector.

sThis week’s ship.energy podcast guest is Simon Sharpe, Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute and Director of Economics for the Climate Champions Team. He is the author of ‘Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change’, which has been longlisted for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2023. In the podcast, Simon discusses his work and his book, in which he investigates the policy, economic and diplomatic avenues to accelerating the energy transition to reduce emissions by 8% a year instead of the current 1.6% a year in order to achieve the 1.5 Celsius cap on global average temperature increases. Simon was previously Deputy Director of the UK government’s COP26 Unit, where he led international campaigns on energy, transport, land use, science and innovation. His other roles in government included leading international climate change strategy, developing the approach to clean growth in the UK’s industrial strategy, and serving as head of private office to Ministers of State for Energy and Climate Change. He has also served on diplomatic postings to China and India. Simon has published academic papers on climate change science and economics, and policy reports on climate change risk assessment, economics, and diplomacy. His current focus is on the Breakthrough Agenda – a process to strengthen international collaboration to accelerate transitions in each emitting sector of the global economy; and on projects to apply new economic thinking to climate change policy, including the Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition (EEIST) project, working with China, India and Brazil.

On the ship.energy podcast this week, Mark Williams talks to Claudia Beumer, Global Account Manager at VT Group (Verenigde Tankrederij BV), who discusses the company’s approaches to the energy transition as well as her role as a board member of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) where she participates in a number of working groups. Claudia is a chemical engineer by education, but moved into the maritime world some 13 years ago whilst working at Emerson in the Analytical Department. While at Emerson she was involved with the business development of mass flow meters for bunkering, and VT was one of her first customers. After some years at Ampelmann and Wärtsilä, Claudia is back to where it all started and is now working for the VT Group as Global Account Manager, looking after existing and new customers worldwide. Her chemical engineering background and her experience in alternative fuels have given Claudia the perfect background to also drive the developments for bunkering of future fuels within VT. In April 2023, she was elected as an IBIA Board member.

We have a repeat visitor to the ship.energy podcast this week, Aoife O’Leary, founder and CEO of the environmental NGO, Opportunity Green. This time round, however, Aoife is talking about the aims and work of the Skies and Sea Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator (SASHA) Coalition which was established earlier this year to bring together shipping and aviation to ensure that an adequate supply of green hydrogen goes to their sectors. In her capacity as Director of the SASHA Coalition, Aoife is also speaking at ship.energy’s Marine Energy Transition Forum taking place this week (17-18 October) at the Port House in Antwerp. The event’s theme is: Making Connections – Partners as drivers for shipping’s energy transition. Aoife is the founder and CEO of Opportunity Green, an environmental NGO using law, economics and policy to take bold climate action. A lawyer and economist with deep environmental expertise, she has extensive experience across a range of different environmental sectors, especially international transport. Aoife is also a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London’s Department of Political Economy.

On the ship.energy podcast this week, Simon Hindley, Managing Director of Solis Marine Engineering, joins Mark Williams to discuss his experience of working with hydrogen, ammonia, electric and methanol fuelled projects and he offers his views on which of these really has the potential to provide the answer to the maritime industry’s future fuel requirements. Simon is a naval architect with experience in offshore, shipping, defence and renewable energy sectors. He has worked on ship and submarine design and operation, stability analyses, structural analysis, hydrodynamics, and standardisation. He has been responsible for numerous engineering projects ranging from research and development to demonstration, covering clean shipping and marine renewable energy.

In this edition of the ship.energy podcast, Mark Williams talks to Danial Kaabi, CEO of Sea Horizon Marine Services about the expansion of the north Field expansion project and whether low carbon technologies were specified for suppliers. With COP 28 to be held in the UAE in November this year, Mark and Danial discuss changing attitudes to the energy transition across the Middle East among governments, industry and maritime organisations. They consider whether propositions like carbon taxation will be perceived as burden or opportunity for shipping operations in the Gulf region. Daniel Kaabi comes from a shipping family and has maintained the family tradition, not only in taking on the CEO position at Sea Horizon but also as a Board Member of YoungShip UAE and a Seatrade Maritime Club Ambassador for Qatar. Daniel has a Bachelors’ Degree in Economics from the University of York in the UK and has studied business at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Sea Horizon has worked in the offshore oil and gas industry in the Gulf region for a half century. It is headquartered in Qatar with a substantial presence in Dubai and has offices across the region. Sea Horizon operates a fleet of offshore supply vessels, jack up accommodation barges as well as offering agency, chartering and towage services among others.

On the ship.energy podcast this week, Mark Williams is conversation with Yuvraj Thakur, Commercial VP for Maritime Transport and the General Manager of Verifavia Technical Services, who explains the role of an independent maritime data verifier– particularly in relation to the upcoming inclusion of shipping in the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). Yuvraj discusses the type of data that ship owners will have to submit for the EU ETS and he outlines the steps that owners should be taking today to be best prepared for the new regime? Part of the Normec Group, Verifavia is a global independent environmental accredited verification, certification and auditing body for aviation, airports and maritime transport. Based in Chandigarh, India, Yuvraj is a qualified auditor for the EU Monitoring, Reporting and Validation scheme and the IMO Data Collection System, and a Hazmat expert. He is a Marine Engineer who has worked on various tanker and container ships. He holds a B Tech Marine Engineering degree from Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education & Training, Pune and an MBA degree in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Jain School of Global Management (Singapore, Sydney and Dubai).

On this week’s ship.energy podcast, Mark Williams talks to Jimmy Redman, MD of SulNOx Fuel Fusions, and Nawaz Haq, Executive Director of the green tech company which provides solutions towards the decarbonisation of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Inventor of the SulNOx range of chemistry, Jimmy Redman has four decades of experience in diverse chemical fields from technical printing chemistry, coatings and sealants through to industrial detergents and retail household brands. He is experienced in managing all aspects of business from market research, product development, packaging, marketing, sales and promotions, including construction and renewable energy installation. The oldest son and namesake of a legend of Grand Prix motor racing, he spent his childhood growing up in the pits of what is now Moto-GP. A national champion sportsman himself, Jimmy brings a unique blend of practical experience and management to SulNOx. An entrepreneur and professional with broad experience, Nawaz Haq started his first business while studying and joined multinational and national real estate consultancies, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor. He has advised a range of major multi-sector businesses, financial and government institutions and oversees a business providing services to oil & gas and logistics industries. Nawaz recently transitioned from RemNOx, a distributor for SulNOx, and is now focused on adding value through corporate and sales strategies and implementation.

In this week’s ship.energy podcast, Tim Smith of MSI considers how changes in global energy consumption out to 2050 might impact global shipping demand. He also addresses the oft-mooted issue of ‘stranded assets’ in the context of the energy transition. Could ships become obsolete – from a technological and regulatory standpoint - before their assumed 25-year lifespan? Tim leads MSI’s oil tanker market research, analysis, modelling, and reporting, whilst playing a key role in MSI’s coverage and forecasting of global energy markets and the energy transition. The company provides market forecasting, business advisory services and consultancy across all shipping sectors. Tim contributes to a wide range of consultancy and project work range from strategic planning to investment proposals for a range of marine assets, as well as acting as an expert witness in dispute resolution. He also presents, contributes and moderates at conferences and industry events, and his views and analysis are regularly quoted in the maritime media. Prior to joining MSI, Tim worked for Shell Trading and Shipping Company and he has a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick.

In a new ship.energy podcast, Danielle Southcott talks to Mark Williams about her ambitions for zero carbon shipping and her role as founder of SAILCARGO INC. and Veer Group (which is nominated for the EarthShot prize). Danielle was named by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects as one of the most influential women of the past century and was listed by The Ocean Opportunity Lab as an inspirational female founder to watch. Hailing from the Great Lakes of Canada, Danielle began sailing at the age of 13. A graduate of the ‘’Enkhuizer’’ Sea Academy, she learned Dutch to graduate. She obtained her 200T master’s ticket at the age of 21 which enabled her to captain the flagship of Barbados, the cargo schooner RUTH. She is co-founder of a Costa Rican non-profit that plants thousands of trees and creates jobs in a vulnerable coastal community. Each year Danielle’s company sponsors a young woman to sail on the tall ship ST. LAWRENCE II – as a ‘thank you’ to the Canadian ship that first inspired her.

In this, the first ship.energy podcast of the week, Michelle Wiese Bockmann, Senior Analyst at Lloyd’s List Intelligence and also Markets Editor at Lloyd’s List, and Mark Williams discuss the recent MEPC 80 meeting at the IMO HQ in London, England. Michelle offers an independent view of progress and roadblocks towards net zero. Michelle has worked at Lloyd’s List Intelligence/Lloyd’s list since 2019. She has a 23 year track record of reporting on shipping for Fairplay, Lloyd’s List, Bloomberg, Clipper Data, and the Oil Price Information Service. She has won numerous plaudits for her analysis of the dark fleet of oil tankers shipping sanctioned oil, as well as for her coverage of the IMO’s work on decarbonising shipping. Michelle is an active member of WISTA.