CimbriaTMS Awards 2023Port of StocktonViganVan AalstGeneva Dry
  • Van Aalst
  • Port of Stockton
  • TBA Group
  • Cimbria
  • Bühler GmbH
  • Port of South Louisiana

Major Wärtsilä role in environmental EU project

Major Wärtsilä role in environmental EU project

(Posted on 25/01/21)

The technology group Wärtsilä, as part of a consortium led by the University of Vaasa in Finland, will play a major role in an important project aimed at reducing the environmental impact of shipping. Project CHEK – deCarbonising sHipping by Enabling Key technology symbiosis on real vessel concept designs, has been granted funding of EUR 10 million by the EU as part of its Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

In addition to the University of Vaasa and Wärtsilä, the other project partners are BAR Technologies, Cargill Ocean Transportation, Climeon, Deltamarin, Hasytec Electronics, Lloyds Register, MSC Cruises, Silverstream Technologies and World Maritime University.

The goal of the CHEK project is to reduce emissions from shipping through the integrated use of low-carbon energy forms and technologies. These include the use of hydrogen fuel, wind power, electric batteries, heat recovery, air lubrication, and new anti-fouling technology. Development work on the way by which vessels are designed and operated is also included.

The project will design two concept vessels; a bulk carrier, which will utilise sails to capture wind energy, and a cruise ship that will operate with a Wärtsilä designed engine running on hydrogen fuel. It is estimated that by combining new and innovative technologies, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 99 percent, energy savings of up to 50 percent can be achieved, while black carbon emissions can be cut by more than 95 percent. Several key enabling technologies will be demonstrated in practice on actual operational ships.

“CHEK represents another significant step in Wärtsilä’s commitment and efforts to decarbonise marine operations. There is no silver bullet to meeting the challenge of combating climate change, you need to exploit a number of parallel paths, and that’s exactly what we are doing together with our partners here. What makes the project so exciting is that we are stretching what can be done,” says Jonas Åkerman, Director of Research and Technology Development at Wärtsilä.

The project dovetails with Wärtsilä’s extensive investments in developing an ecosystem of co-creation. The company’s Smart Technology Hub in Vaasa is a new state-of-the-art innovation centre driving research, development, and production aimed at creating solutions for a more sustainable world. This initiative is complemented with Wärtsilä’s Smart Partner Campus platform, where stakeholders are invited to participate in the co-creation of win-win solutions.

In addition to developing and testing the hydrogen engine, Wärtsilä’s contributions to the project will include the following;

System integration for both vessels, including hybridisation, energy storage and shore power connections; Developing a modular fuel-flexible powertrain for reduced fuel consumption and optimum efficiency; Implementing the novel gate rudder system for enhanced manoeuvrability and better efficiency; and Route optimisation for the wind assisted bulker to take advantage of prevailing and forecasted wind conditions.

Wärtsilä is already well advanced in researching potential future ‘clean’ fuels capable of making a real contribution to decarbonising shipping operations.

Latest News

Superior’s TeleStacker Conveyor automation gets major upgrade

(Posted on 29/11/24)

Superior Industries, Inc., a US-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing and... Read more


Superior opens new manufacturing facility in Minnesota

(Posted on 20/11/24)

Superior Industries, Inc., a US-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing and... Read more


Low-friction coatings set to improve RightShip GHG rating

(Posted on 20/11/24)

RightShips’ EVDI methodology is familiar to most drybulk ship owners, with chartering customers... Read more


Great Lakes bulk carriers continue to “Thordonize”

(Posted on 12/11/24)

Thordon Bearings has delivered its COMPAC water-lubricated propeller shaft bearing solution to the final... Read more


ShipMoney appoints Karen Martin as Global Brand Ambassador

(Posted on 12/11/24)

ShipMoney, the innovative digital payments platform for the maritime industry, has announced the appointment... Read more


50 years of the Liebherr mobile harbour crane

(Posted on 04/11/24)

The global market for mobile harbour cranes has seen Liebherr rise to prominence, thanks to the consistent... Read more


Breakthrough makes possible wireless monitoring of seawater-lubricated bearing wear

(Posted on 31/10/24)

Thordon Bearings has unveiled a new wireless propeller shaft bearing wear measurement system, marking... Read more


Partnership to deliver integrated maritime solutions

(Posted on 31/10/24)

Global HR, payroll, and crew management software specialist Adonis under the Ripple Operations brand... Read more


TwinShip aims to improve access to reliable data for aiding decarbonisation

(Posted on 26/10/24)

A consortium, including technology group Wärtsilä, will develop a new system for the maritime... Read more


K Line to trial Inmarsat Maritime's new bonded network service

(Posted on 26/10/24)

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. and Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, have announced that “K&rdquo... Read more


TBA GroupTelestackPort of South LouisianaTOC AmericasSailors SocietyBühler GmbH
  • Sailors Society
  • Telestack
  • Geneva Dry
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • TOC Americas

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping