Industry Insight: EMP Makes First Public Display of Sustainable Shipping Technologies & Concepts

Earlier this month at Sea Japan 2014, Eco Marine Power (EMP) made the first public display of a number of its bunker saving technologies and concepts that it hopes will help vessels of all types make the move to renewable energy.

EMP is developing its sustainable shipping technologies based on the use of wind and solar power, and said the major focus of its presentation & display at Sea Japan was the Aquarius Eco Ship.

A model of this design concept made its debut at the event.

"The Aquarius Eco Ship is EMP's vision of how various renewable energy technologies can be combined via the Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) System and then integrated into the design of a modern ship," EMP's Greg Atkinson told Ship & Bunker.

"The Aquarius Eco Ship is not science fiction nor are the technologies it incorporates just ideas.

"All of the major components of the Aquarius MRE System are either currently being tested in the Aquarius Innovation Lab in Osaka, Japan, or are commercially available such as the flexible marine grade solar panels and KEI 3240 computer system."

The major focus of EMPs presentation & display at Sea Japan was the Aquarius Eco Ship

Also on display was a rigid sail known as the EnergySail, which is capable of using both wind and solar energy to help power a vessel, and the corresponding EnergySail Automated Control System (ACS), used to automate the operation of an EnergySail or an array of EnergySails.

"The EnergySail ACS and an EnergySail prototype are currently being tested in the Aquarius Innovation Lab and preparations are also being made to ready these technologies for sea trials which are due to commence during 2014," said Atkinson.

Finally, the company showcased the Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS), a system for shipping which can monitor fuel consumption, calculate emissions, and manage renewable energy sources, as well as being expanded to include other functions such as alarm handling, engine performance logging and on-board systems monitoring.