(NEWS) WMU Hosts Workshop Focused on Alternative Fuels and EU Ports

November

2022

WMU Hosts Workshop Focused on Alternative Fuels and EU Ports

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On 10 November, the World Maritime University (WMU) hosted the hybrid workshop “Are EU ports ready for alternative fuels?” co-organized by the ENGIMMONIA and SEANERGY projects, both co-funded by the EU. The workshop presented relevant decarbonization experiences from EU ports providing the opportunity for over 70 port and maritime stakeholders to interact on identifying opportunities and barriers towards the promotion of alternative fuels in EU Ports.

Discussions included the European Commission’s programmes already in place to accelerate the energy transition of sea transport and ports. EU ports that are already lighthouses in decarbonization were highlighted. Mrs Nicole Costa from the Swedish Ship Testing Facility (SSPA) presented the different ways to decarbonize EU Ports through electricity and alternative fuels. Representatives of ports included Mr Josep Sanz Argent from the Valencia Port Foundation, Mr Malthe Mulvad from the Port of Malmö/Copenhagen, and Mr Mario Franzone from the Port of Genoa.

WMU’s contributions to the workshop included a presentation of the SEANERGY (Sustainability EducationAl programme for greeNER fuels and enerGY) project by Assistant Professor Fabio Ballini, who serves as WMU’s Principal Investigator for the project. Dr Monica Canepa, WMU Research Associate, also contributed to the workshop by leading one of the interactive sessions. Additional presentations included the ENGIMMONIA project by Mr Andrea Pestarino, Head of Innovation for Energy and Mobility at RINA Consulting, and an in-depth analysis of the role of EU ports in Energy Transition highlighting state-of-the-art and future perspectives by Mr Jaap Gebraad, Secretary-General of Waterborne. The workshop was moderated by Professor Daria Bellotti from the University of Genoa.

As a partner in the SEANERGY project, WMU is leading Work Package 2, “Understanding the current EU ports’ situation and stakeholders,” which involves identification and analysis of the needs, barriers and know-how of stakeholders who are involved in the port energy transition. Additionally, WMU is contributing to the other three main stages of the project by supporting activities that include a survey, an analysis, and educational programmes and workshops.

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