The ship.energy podcast

First movers series, episode 01 Rasmus Nielsen, Naval Architect / Officer, Scandlines The First Movers series puts the spotlight on those maritime companies that have been among the first to take the plunge on decarbonisation by trialling and adopting alternative fuels or green technologies.  This series goes beyond the initial and optimistic big announcements and headlines and asks what happens in the months and years that follow. It aims to unpick the tangible results achieved and the practical challenges faced by these decarbonisation pioneers.  As the series develops, we will interrogate the concept of a ‘first mover advantage’. How does being a trailblazer deliver in terms of achieving commercial success, developing cutting edge technology, and driving the energy transition forwards? With the benefit of hindsight, would these companies take the same decisions again or would their strategies be very different? In this first episode of First Movers, Ariane Morrissey is joined by Rasmus Nielsen, Naval Architect and Officer at Scandlines, a ferry company that operates routes between Denmark and Germany. Rasmus was involved throughout the preparation, installation, and performance evaluation of rotor sails on M/V Copenhagen in 2020, and on M/V Berlin two years later.  In this interview, he reveals how the company started small to test the technology, document performance and solve any teething issues – and how being a first mover paid off, with the wind propulsion system genuinely delivering the 4-5% average emissions reductions that were promised in the project.  Rasmus also reflects on the challenges faced by first movers who pioneer technologies before regulation and rules are fully ready, and how Scandlines successfully jumped through those administrative hoops to install battery systems on board back in 2013.  He believes that new regulation including EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime will make it inevitable for other companies to follow the path paved by first movers, arguing that doing nothing will also have a cost. 

As Ardmore marks 10 years without a lost-time injury (LTI) on its tanker Ardmore Endeavour, the company’s Fleet Management Director Gerry Docherty reflects on the importance of listening to seafarers to build a robust safety culture on board, and how that can be done in practice.  In this interview, Gerry argues that maintaining an open dialogue with seafarers will be essential throughout the energy transition. He also expands on the role that digital technology will play in upskilling crews as new fuels and technologies are introduced on board – and how Ardmore is already using virtual reality as part of its training regime.  Himself a seagoing marine engineer with BP Shipping in the 1990s, Gerry then served as a Project Manager and Senior Surveyor with Lloyd’s Register before joining Ardmore in 2011.

Rob Mortimer, Founder and CEO, Fuelre4m The first guest on the ship.energy podcast in October is Rob Mortimer, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based Fuelre4m. Rob has taken on the challenge of transforming how industries think about fossil fuels, with a focus on modernising outdated practices through innovation, digitalisation, and cutting-edge technology.  At Fuelre4m, Rob spearheaded the development of Re4mx, a fuel optimisation technology that improves fuel efficiency by up to 20% while reducing emissions by as much as 80%. He also led the development of Styrex, a world-first innovation that recycles polystyrene waste into sustainable fuel, helping industries transition to circular economy models.  Before launching Fuelre4m, Rob honed his leadership skills across various sectors. His role as Managing Director at Valley Utilities Ltd demonstrated his ability to drive business growth while focusing on the sustainability of energy resources. Additionally, his time as Managing Director at Catomance Ltd provided him with extensive experience in technical and regulatory leadership within the fuel and energy industries. In conversation with ship.energy’s Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Rob explains how Re4mx technology can move the dial on conventional marine fuel in terms of energy content, combustion and emissions reduction. He also sets out his concerns over the accuracy of current data on fuel consumption and how that data is being collected and interpreted, and he gives his perspectives on how digitalisation can optimise the accretion and value of data. 

This week’s podcast guest is Ahila Karan who is the Senior Lead on Green Initiatives at the Lloyd’s Register (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub. In this role she led the launch of The Silk Alliance Green Corridor Cluster to catalyse the bunkering of alternative fuels in Singapore, as well as the Maritime Fuel Supply Dialogues, a regional initiative facilitating public/private dialogues across the energy and transport sectors to accelerate hydrogen-based fuel supply development across Asia Pacific and Africa.  Ahila has more than 7 years’ experience covering global energy markets, with a particular focus on transportation fuels and the cleaner fuels transition.  She holds a Master of Science degree in Economics from University College London and previously worked at oil trading company Trafigura as the Global Distillates Analyst where she was also involved in producing analysis on shipping industry trends and fleet analysis. Prior to this, Ahila worked at S&P Global, reporting on major energy news and the latest environmental policy changes affecting the shipping and road fuels industries.  The Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub is an independent, not-for-profit social purpose organisation, working towards a safe, sustainable, and human-centric decarbonised shipping industry for the benefit of society.  It was formed in 2020 with a grant from Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

ship.energy marks a new month with a new podcast, featuring Alexandre Tocatlian, Head of Business Development at Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) Commercial Division. Taking a deep dive into all things LNG, Alexandre will discuss GTT’s work on LNG containment systems, explain the characteristics of bio and synthetic LNG, and consider how LNG can maintain its reputation as a low-emission fuel on a well-to-wake basis. Alexandre Tocatlian graduated in 2011 from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon, with a specialiaation in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London.  He joined GTT in January 2014 as a Technical Project Manager on LNGCs and FSRUs projects. In September 2016, he moved to the LNG Fuel Division, as a Product Line Manager for the passenger ship market. From July 2019 he managed the Product Lines team, delivering solutions for all types of LNG-fuelled ships and LNG bunker vessels.  Since July 2021, Alexandre has been heading the Business Development team covering all GTT products and services for Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa and India.

In this week’s podcast, we discuss the issues surrounding the commercial viability of nuclear-powered ships and how they could change the shipping industry.  In conversation with Mark Williams, Chirayu Batra, an independent expert on advanced reactors and small modular reactors, addresses technical questions on nuclear reactors. They are joined by Amelia Hipwell, Decarbonisation Innovation Manager at Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, who offers her perspectives on the business case for nuclear-powered shipping as well as the challenges, including overcoming public perceptions about the use of the technology.  Amelia is the Decarbonisation Innovation Manager of the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (LR MDH). She manages the Hub’s proprietary Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor website which provides an insights-based assessment of the readiness of zero carbon fuels for maritime applications and industry-wide comparisons of alternative solutions across the entire fuel supply chain.  Amelia joined Lloyd’s Register in 2016, after graduating with a Master of Engineering (Mechanical, Design and Operations) degree from the University of Durham. She joined LR on the graduate scheme before moving into the role of an Additive Manufacturing Inspection Surveyor, developing LR's additive manufacturing expertise and value propositions, and then as a Business Model Innovation Architect.  At the LR MDH, Amelia has grown and evolved the Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor, which assesses the readiness levels of shipping’s most promising zero-carbon fuels and energy sources in three main areas: technology, investment, and community. She has authored two published update reports for the Monitor – the Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor October 2023 update and How close is the shipping industry to adopting nuclear for propulsion? She has also worked with the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) on the report, Green Steel and Shipping. Chirayu Batra has over a decade of experience in advanced nuclear technology. Currently, he is channelling his expertise into a new stealth-mode venture, focused on advancing nuclear technology.  Previously, as Chief Technology Officer at TerraPraxis and LucidCatalyst, Chirayu worked on large-scale deployment strategies for nuclear energy. Prior to this, he served as a Project Officer for advanced reactor technologies at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  As a subject matter expert, Chirayu has in-depth knowledge of nuclear reactor design, safety, and technology development. His advanced degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Reactor Physics, complemented by research experience in neutronics and thermal hydraulics, underpin his technical and project management proficiency.  At the IAEA, Chirayu was the first scientific secretary for the agency’s platform on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), coordinating the development of the IAEA’s medium-term strategy for near-term deployment of SMRs. He also led the creation of the international SMR Coordination and Resource Portal for Information Exchange, Outreach, and Networking, which is currently the primary source of information for all relevant activities on SMRs at the IAEA.  Additionally, Chirayu spearheaded the IAEA’s activities on codes and standards, design engineering, and manufacturing of SMR components. His contributions extended to several international scientific committees, where he regularly provided technical insights.  Chirayu holds a double master's degree in Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Reactor Physics, along with an undergraduate degree in Material Science. 

ship.energy celebrates its 100th podcast this week with a great conversation between contributing editor Mark Williams and Allyson Browne, co-founder of High Ambition Climate Collective and a driving force for change in climate and energy policy. With more than 10 years of experience across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Allyson has also served as Pacific Environment’s Climate Campaign Director, leading their Ports for People campaigns to end port and ship pollution in partnership with frontline community-based organisations. Shore power is a key strand in this discussion, and Allyson looks at developments in this technology at US ports and considers the challenges surrounding the supply of electricity from renewable sources in order to be truly net zero. She also explains how ports’ decarbonisation efforts, including electrification and shore power, can support climate adaptation and resilience goals. In other roles, Allyson has previously served as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for SRECTrade, where she collaborated with industry and grassroots organisations on renewable energy policies. She was Chief of Staff to Jared Blumenfeld for California Governor Newsom’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign and on the Energy & Environment team, and she has also worked as a consultant on energy in cities, cannabis, and cryptocurrency. Allyson holds a Juris Doctor, Environmental Law from Golden Gate University School of Law and a B.S., Business Administration from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

On this week’s ship.energy podcast, Paul Stuart Smith, Managing Partner, JS Global Advisory, and Mark Williams discuss whether, in the light of recent announcements from energy companies and recent election results, decarbonisation is going backwards. They consider the progress and challenges of decarbonisation and the broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework.  Paul emphasises the need for increased investment in renewable energy and alternative fuels, as well as stronger government support and regulatory clarity.  He also highlights the importance of ESG reporting and the pushback it has faced, but notes that companies are increasingly focusing on ESG issues and adopting reporting frameworks like TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) and TNFD (Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures). Paul is a former Executive Director at the Baltic Exchange where he led its regulated subsidiary from 2009-17. He previously held high-profile roles in Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley and Chemical Bank in London and New York. His experience includes managing Morgan Stanley’s financing and borrowing activity in Europe, as well as managing significant risk positions for both firms in bond, currency and derivatives markets. As a consultant he has advised the Climate Bonds Initiative on its Shipping Criteria and a UK bank on the structuring and roll out of a ground-breaking green finance product based on Green Bond & Green Loan Principles and the EU Taxonomy. He works with listed companies across sectors and geographies with a particular focus on decarbonisation, the energy transition, and corporate reporting of climate-related risk in line with the TCFD recommendations, including scenario analysis and selection and reporting of KPIs. Other current projects include advising on the development of the business model for a new Global Biodiversity Standard which aims to provide much needed assurance to carbon sequestration projects and carbon credit markets world-wide. In 2023 he contributed to a report from the UNDP which calls on regulators and policymakers to integrate social inequality-related risk fully into financial stability and disclosure frameworks.  He is an Oxford-educated mathematician and trained as a barrister

On this week’s ship.energy podcast, Mark Williams talks to Giampiero Soncini, Managing Director of the digitalisation and decarbonisation company, Oceanly. In the course of his career, Giampiero spent 20 years at SpecTec - the company behind the AMOS software - including 11 years as its CEO. During this time, he played a significant role in establishing the company as a major player in IT for the shipping industry.  Giampiero believes that the future of digitalisation in shipping lies in achieving complete control over all aspects of navigation planning, fuel consumption, and emissions. As a result, he is convinced that Oceanly Performance will become a crucial element of fleet management. For this reason, he decided to join the company as CEO.  In this podcast, Mark and Giampiero discuss trends in onboard data collection, analysis and reporting, automation, decision support and autonomy, and the benefits and limits of voyage optimisation.  Giampiero served as an officer in the Italian Navy for 14 years, and for 13 years was the Technical Manager for NATO Research Vessel Alliance, the world's first ship to be equipped with both GPS and Inertial Navigation System technology. During this time, he became passionate about integrating technology into ships.

In this week’s ship.energy podcast, the spotlight is on the Maritime Fuel Supply Dialogues, an initiative from Lloyd’s Register’s Decarbonisation Hub. The Dialogues were launched at a first roundtable discussion on 16 April during Singapore Maritime Week which was hosted by the Ocean Stewardship Coalition of the United Nations Global Compact in partnership with the LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub. The initiative is a dialogue series focused on scaling fuel supply development across Asia Pacific and Africa to support regional maritime decarbonisation, that brings together stakeholders across energy and transport sectors. The series aims to unlock the potential for clean and sustainable fuels, especially hydrogen-based fuels, and to foster a thriving blue economy. In this ship.energy discussion, contributing editor Mark Williams finds out more about the focus and aims of the Dialogues in conversation with Karan Sawhney, Senior Project Manager, Ocean Stewardship Coalition, United Nations Global Compact and Carlo Raucci, Director of Sustainable Fuels and Strategy, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub. Karan Sawhney Karan Sawhney is a Senior Project Manager at the Ocean Stewardship Coalition of the UN Global Compact with a background in the maritime and energy sectors. Karan began his professional journey in the shipping industry in Singapore. He then ventured into entrepreneurship by founding his own company in the offshore oil and gas sector.  Seeking to deepen his understanding of energy and environmental issues and pursue his passion for sustainability Karan left the industry to pursue a Master's degree in Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), complementing his Bachelor's degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. Karan then joined the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) as a Program Advisor, where he played a crucial role in international conservation projects. His work in project management and sustainability led him to his current role at the UN Global Compact, where he is responsible for developing and managing sustainability linked initiatives within the maritime sector. Karan is currently leading the establishment of Ocean Stewardship Centers in the global south, as well as  spearheading an international ports working group, focusing on high-level policy recommendations to be presented during the UN General Assembly Week. Dr Carlo Raucci Dr Carlo Raucci is a highly regarded expert in maritime decarbonisation, with over 15 years of experience driving change in the industry. As Director, Sustainable Fuels and Strategy at the Lloyd's Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, he spearheads efforts to accelerate the adoption of sustainable fuels for shipping. Dr Raucci’s study "A framework for first movers in shipping's decarbonisation (2021)" played a pivotal role in establishing the Silk Alliance, a green corridor cluster in Singapore, which is currently managed by his team. He is accountable for the First Mover Program of the Hub, where he supervises a team and supports stakeholders across the maritime industry to embrace sustainable fuels and expedite the transition to a clean future. His expertise extends beyond hydrogen, encompassing fuel mix projections, production cost models, and decarbonisation strategy development.  Dr Raucci has authored numerous publications, including: “The scale of investment needed to decarbonise international shipping”, “The Potential of Zero-Carbon Bunker Fuels in Developing Countries”, and The Future of Maritime Fuels.  Dr Raucci's research from his PhD at University College London (2016) was the first to propose hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels as a viable option for decarbonising shipping.

On the ship.energy podcast this week, Dan Slater, VP Sales and Business Development at Scanreach, takes a deep dive into the world of digitalisation to explain the importance of IoT for smart shipping and how data can be collected, reported and acted on to improve vessel efficiency.  Dan has a BSc in Applied Chemistry from Cardiff University in Wales. He has three decades of experience in telecoms and data sales and business development. He joined ScanReach in 2022 after a number of years at GreenSteam. He has also held senior positions at i4-Insight and Eniram. ScanReach is a maritime IoT company based in Bergen, Norway. The company was founded in 2015 with the mission of developing affordable and user-friendly live lifesaving technologies for vessels and offshore installations, in particular for Personnel On-Board (POB) Control. The company has developed a wireless IoT platform for complex and confined steel environments such as ships and offshore structures. This means that the inside of vessels and rigs can be wirelessly fully covered. Other IoT applications also include wireless control of assets, equipment, room conditions, and cargo monitoring and gas detection.

Julian Boulland, head of the sustainable shipping commercial department at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, is this week’s podcast guest. In a wide-ranging conversation with ship.energy’s contributing editor Mark Williams, Julian considers the challenges and potential timelines for scaling up the availability of next generation shipping fuels. He also looks non-fuel tech options which are going to be vital in meeting the IMO’s intermediate emission reduction targets.  Julien has represented Bureau Veritas for over 18 years in positions around the world, including a decade based in South East Asia. An expert in gas technologies, he has worked on various aspects of LNG in shipping related to Classification, Certification, Regulatory Compliance and Innovation. He frequently delivers workshops and trainings on technical aspects of LNG shipping and Code compliance (IGC Code and IGF Code) and is a well-known speaker at forums and conferences. Julien has an MSc in Naval Architecture / Naval Engineering from the University of Southampton in the UK and aMSc in Engineering from the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines de Nancy in France. 

This week’s ship.energy podcast features Matt Dunlop, Group Director, Sustainability & Decarbonisation at V Ships Matt is a Master Mariner and has sailed on Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. His career ashore began in 1996 with Acomarit which was later acquired by V.Ships in 2001. His roles have included time spent as a Ship Operator, Fleet Operations Manager and Fleet Manager, before taking up the role of Divisional Risk, Safety and Quality Director, Chief Operating Officer, Group Director Marine Operations and latterly Group HSSEQ Director. As Sustainability & Decarbonisation Director, Matt has the responsibility to drive V.Group’s partnership with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping to help the industry transition to a net zero future. He is working closely with the Center to support its work and provide practical guidance regarding safe solutions to achieve decarbonisation aims. Matt is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Dr Adi Imsirovic, Director of Surrey Clean Energy, gives his insights on alternative marine fuels and the future of oil in this week’s ship.energy podcast. Dr Imsirovic has some 35 years of experience in oil trading and has held a number of senior positions in his career, including as Global Head of Oil at Gazprom Marketing & Trading and Regional Manager of Texaco Oil Trading for Asia. As well as looking at the trajectory of shipping’s energy transition, Dr Imsirovic is extremely well placed to consider the future of oil. How much oil will still be produced, traded and consumed by 2050? How will oil be priced? What will carbon pricing and carbon capture do to oil markets?  In addition to his roles in the commercial sector, Dr Imsirovic was a Fulbright Scholar, studying at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. He taught Energy Economics as well as Resource and Environmental Economics at Surrey University for several years, where he remains affiliated to its Energy Economic Centre. He has also worked as a Senior Research Fellow the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. He has a PhD in Economics and a Masters degree in Energy Economics.  Dr Imsirovic has written a number of papers and articles on the topic of oil and gas prices, benchmarks, and energy security. He is the author of ‘Trading and Price Discovery for Crude Oils: Growth and Development of International Oil Markets’, published in 2021 and also editor of ‘Brent Crude Oil: Genesis and Development of the World's Most Important Oil Benchmark’. His next book to be published is ‘International Oil Markets in the Era of Climate Change’.

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.

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the drivers of the market in EU Allowances (EUAs) are the topics up for discussion in this week’s ship.energy podcast, featuring Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, Chief Analyst and Head of Research at Global Risk Management (GRM), part of Bunker Holding Group. In conversation with Mark Williams, Arne demystifies EUAs and answers some key questions along the way, including: •            Why is shipping not really important for the EUA price? •            Why is the EUA curve in contango? •            When should ship owners buy their EUAs? •            What is the process for buying EUAs? •            Can EUAs be hedged and should ship owners bother? GRM offers hedging services, and his role at the company Arne covers a wide range of energy products, such as oil and its products, natural gas, power, coal, and emissions (EUAs). He joined GRM a little over a year ago after 23 years of experience in the research department at Danske Bank – a leading Nordic retail and investment bank. Arne has covered a wide range of products and areas like FX, rates, fixed income, commodities, and macro and has advised both institutional and corporate clients across Europe and the US. Arne has in-depth knowledge of ESG from a financial market perspective and holds a certificate in ESG investing from CFA UK. He has held various managerial positions during his carrier, holds a Master of Economics degree from the University of South Denmark, and is regularly quoted in local and international financial media.

This week, Mark Williams talks to George Haysom, CCO of Idwal, about his role in the strategic development of the company’s offerings to target markets and, more specifically, on the growth of the business’s condition improvement programme, Idwal ID. Mark and George discuss the Idwal ID online service in detail, different user cases, and how environmental, social and governance data can be managed and reported using the system. Before joining Idwal, George was most recently Group Commercial Director at Anglo-Eastern with a fleet of over 650 vessels under full technical management. Having started his career as a broker with Braemar before moving on to Gulf Marine Service, PLC as General Manager, George oversaw the fleet management of offshore vessels.

Gianni Soglia is the founder and CEO of New Power Energy (NPE), based in Budapest, Hungary.  NPE has developed a chemical process that reportedly captures nearly 100% of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion, converting the captured CO₂ and other gases into clean energy. With a background in manufacturing and engineering, Gianni discovered this technology by chance while working on another project. NPE has already tested its equipment on an industrial chimney and an ocean-going container ship, achieving over 90% verified CO₂ capture, according to the company.  To learn more about this innovative technology, Mark Williams spoke with Gaia Morandi, the Executive Assistant to New Power Energy’s CEO, who joined on Gianni Soglia’s behalf due to his limited English.

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.