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Lloyd’s Register’s independent charity foundation, The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust (The LRET), has agreed to fund a research programme into shipping emissions at NTUA over the next five years – the commitment will be worth over €1,500,000.

The initiative is intended to look at the totality of emissions from shipping in a holistic manner, to address design, construction and operational aspects to provide insight into potential solutions.

The agreement further extends the LRET’s support for maritime education and research in Greece where it has been active since its launch in 2004, funding pre-university education, university education and marine research programmes.

commenting on the news, NTUA’s Professor Harilaos Psaraftis said: “I am really happy to be associated with the Centre of Excellence and look forward to the next five years. The issues we shall be looking at are at the forefront of knowledge development for sustainability in maritime transport. Such knowledge is multi-disciplinary and I can only look ahead to the challenge of rigorously analysing these classes of problems and finding solutions that are agreeable to the major stakeholders.”

David Moorhouse, The LRET Chair of Trustees and Lloyd’s Register Chairman, said: "The LRET is extending its support throughout the world in a number of important areas. We want to encourage the study and development of science, engineering and technology to help solve the many challenges the world faces, such as climate change and the huge increase in energy demand. Our work in Greece is part of this effort for the wider public benefit.”

The LRET has a significant number of commitments in Greece:

• The LRET provides undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships in naval architecture and/ or marine engineering to assist exceptional students to further their maritime studies before taking up a career in shipping. The total support of these scholarships is more than €170,000.

• The LRET has worked with the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) since 2004 to grant an annual postgraduate scholarship at Masters’ level for studies in maritime related sectors worth €12,600. The scholarship is awarded to Greek nationals for studies in internationally recognised universities anywhere in the world.

• The LRET is also financially supporting HELMEPA (Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association) in the expansion of HELMEPA Junior – a programme designed to promote marine environmental awareness in children up to 13 years old in Greece through a three year financing program that started in April 2008.

• HELMEPA Junior, with support from The LRET, has been extended to the support of HELMEPA Cadets, a scheme aimed at young people between 13 and 30 years old. The total economic support is going to be more than €155,000.