Ricardo hosts Maritime Decarbonisation Summit 2024

If maritime is serious about sustainability, then it must also get serious about working together to forge a clear innovation pathway.

This was one of the key messages from the second annual ‘Maritime Decarbonisation Summit’ hosted by Ricardo at its Shoreham Technical Centre (July 3rd).

“There are a complex set of challenges facing the maritime sector and adjacent industries,” said the event co-host, Adrian Greaney, Ricardo Strategy, Technology and Innovation Director, in his closing summation. “And it’s clear that change is moving at pace. To date, however, the innovation focus has been on technologies. Now we need innovation to focus on how the sector can collaborate to accelerate its journey to sustainability.”

“And that’s what this summit about”, Adrian continued. “Bringing together vessel owners, operators, port authorities and energy suppliers to listen to their viewpoints and understand what we need from each other if we are to agree a way forward”. 

“As we have heard throughout the day, there are a lot of bold and cutting-edge initiatives in motion, but the big picture is still disjointed. Now is the time to bring all the pieces of the jigsaw together”.

'Clarity is coming'

Senior representatives from across the industry attended the summit to hear from organisations such as Portsmouth International Port, SSE, Brittany Ferries, HMM and Harwich Haven Authority about the latest developments in their maritime decarbonisation journeys.

The summit also heard from Shoreham Port, Kalmar, pH3 Capital, European River Cruise Association, Cemex Marine and Innovate UK on topics that included alternative vessel fuels, the impact of AI, renewables, developments in shore power, electrification, safety management and advice on securing funding support. 

Tim Scarbrough, Ricardo’s Director of Maritime, who opened the event, also provided an outline of developments in international and domestic policy, assuring attendees that: “Clarity is coming, not just in fuels, but in a range of adjacent technologies. As measures come into force, we should, as an industry, have a much more aligned regulatory environment, from the IMO through to national policies, and that will bring consistency and efficiency to the decarbonisation challenge’.

Attendees also visited Ricardo’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell facilities and on-site H2 storage and testing centres. They were also invited to inspect progress on the sustainable hydrogen-powered shipping (‘sHYpS') project, where Ricardo engineers are developing hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technologies that will power the next generation of zero emissions passenger ships.

This was the second Maritime Decarbonisation Summit to be organised and hosted by Ricardo. The event closed with a request from participants that the Summit will return in 2025 to review progress and help maintain dialogue between industry stakeholders.

^{L to R: Ricardo's Tim Scarbrough, Director of Maritime; Olivia Carpenter-Lomax, Associate Director, Energy Decarbonisation; Adrian Greaney, Strategy, Technology and Innovation Director.}