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Dr. Hermann J. Klein, Chairman of the Management Board of the German Society for Maritime Technology, STG, and member of the Management Board of Germanischer Lloyd AG, has described possible solutions for increased energy efficiency and more environment-friendliness in maritime shipping in his lecture this week at the at the 23rd SMM Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology International Trade Fair in Hamburg.

Speaking at the BMWi workshop “Environmental protection and innovation – Opportunities for shipbuilding”, Klein gave a lecture entitled "Transforming the challenges of climate and environmental protection into economic opportunities."

He referred to specially optimised hull forms in order to reduce resistance, the technical possibilities of air lubrication, the use of new materials such as composite materials for the reduction of empty weight and the increasing of sturdiness and improvement of the efficiency of the propulsion system.

For ships already in operation, he recommended for example new coatings to the underwater hull, a fuel-consumption-reducing manner of operation, operative energy management, reduced speed and better utilisation of capacities.

Owing to future emissions limits and a substitution of heavy oil, he pointed out that the exploration of alternative fuels requires a new dynamic.

He said that diesel and natural gas have played an important role over the medium term and that technologies for both of these fuels must be urgently developed as well as other methods for the reduction of exhaust gas emissions. Over the long-term, he said that he regards fuel cell technology and renewable energy in maritime travel as being pioneering.