Sustainable Power, Autonomous Ships, and Cleaner Energy for Future Shipping, reviewed

We look at this important and topical book by John Erik Hagen. Sustainable Power, Autonomous Ships, and Cleaner Energy for Future Shipping is published by Artech House. See more on their website here.

Sustainable Power, Autonomous Ships, and Cleaner Energy for Future Shipping, reviewed

This is really important area for humanity. So much of what we buy, use, eat and consume is shipped from other parts of the world. Equally until now a large amount of the power used to propel these vessels has been oil based. Therefore global shipping is a super important factor in terms of our climate emissions. So far, so bad, the positive and fascinating value of Erik Hagen’s book is that there are actually many interesting alternatives, already in development, with some already being trialled and developed for the market.

Until now, over the past few decades there has been an explosion in the volume of massive boats crossing the ocean seas. You only have to look out over the bay in Singapore to be amazed by just how many tankers there are out there. If we continue to be as globally interdependent as we currently have become, it makes sense to move all of this bulk in a more environmentally sustainable way. Hagen’s book takes us through a detailed dive into how the future could play out for us in a more positive way. This book is well worth reading.

More about the book

This exciting new book highlights and discusses new concepts for enhanced e?ciency of ships and how they are operated, primarily resting on reducing the environmental footprints and operational expenses. An overview of technological and regulatory developments and drivers for the challenges described above is provided. Readers learn about sustainable energies and power for propulsion, particularly maritime electrification.

The book includes shore-based initiatives on greenhouse gas reduction in shipping. Status and current practices for propulsion arrangements using renewable energy technologies are presented with examples on ships representing several categories of energies and power. Energy solutions that enable future digital and automated concepts for safe, secure, and cost-effective sustainable shipping are discussed, as well as the concept of autonomous ships as part of maritime electrification and all the possibilities.

The development of renewable energies and the concept of autonomous ships provide glimpses for the development of future sustainable maritime transport solutions. Lessons learned and existing knowledge are important elements for successful transmission towards future concepts for safe, secure, and efficient maritime environmentally friendly and low-cost solutions to our sustainable power and energy challenges that lie ahead. The book discusses the work ahead and provides future thoughts on this issue.

More about the author John Erik Hagen

John Erik Hagen is regional director at the Norwegian Coastal Administration. He pursued a career in the Norwegian Navy, attending office training school and received his degree from the Norwegian Defence University College. He has served as coordinator of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Correspondence Group and chairman of the IMO working groups on e-navigation.

On this day in tech history…https://t.co/EMrmRmBaKM pic.twitter.com/AKs2RoCLSm

— Artech House (@ArtechHouse) September 24, 2021

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