New name, new energy
Co-chairs Dr Gill Reynolds & Captain Muhammad Shafique explain the expanded remit and renaming of their SIG to the Ship Energy and Environment Special Interest Group.
The IMarEST Ship Energy and Environment Special Interest Group (SIG) is the new name for the former Marine Fuels and Emissions SIG. Previously focusing on emissions and fuels for shipping, and bringing together professionals to share knowledge and understanding, the new name and expanded scope better reflect the technologies being explored to reduce the environmental impact of ship propulsion and highlights the SIG’s focus on environmental impact.
The past and the present
The former Marine Fuels and Emissions SIG was an amalgamation of two separate SIGs which had combined several years ago. Originally the Ship Emissions SIG was run by Dr Reynolds, focusing on air pollutants NOx, SOx, particulate matter, black carbon and greenhouse gases, particularly CO2. Because of overlap with the Marine Fuels SIG, run by Captain Shafique, it was decided to amalgamate the two. Until recently, the SIG served the interest in ship emissions reduction, covering both traditional and new low/no carbon fuels like hydrogen, methanol and ammonia. The SIG didn’t address broader solutions beyond alternative fuels or step into the realms of nuclear propulsion, renewable energy, battery technology and the potential of carbon capture.
“Technology and fuels are evolving,” says the SIG co-chair Captain Muhammad Shafique who has almost four decades of maritime industry experience. In a post-pandemic world with a renewed energy for making this planet greener, it was timely for the SIG to re-evaluate.
SIG co-chair Dr Gill Reynolds, who has worked on sustainability matters for over 25 years, explains that the group needed to address the broader range of solutions, by expanding their scope:
“It was towards the end of 2022 when we put this plan forward to the SIG Committee members and there was general endorsement that it was appropriate to expand the remit of the SIG to cover additional areas like nuclear propulsion, wind energy and other renewable sources, battery technology and the potential application of carbon capture to shipping. We also wanted to flag that it's not only the core technical side, but also the environmental impact that is of particular interest to the SIG.”
Captain Shafique suggests the new SIG name is: “more inclusive, reflecting a renewed commitment to new objectives, in addition to attracting more professionals.”
Next steps
Once the expansion of the SIG focus was agreed, the team then considered how best to engage with the IMarEST membership and wider community. The idea arose of releasing five-minute videos under the banner of ship, energy and the environment to provide easily understandable snapshots of the potential solutions to help decarbonise the shipping sector.
As Dr Reynolds explains: “Our idea is to get experts in the technical areas covered by the expanded remit of the SIG such as traditional marine fuels, low and zero-carbon fuels, nuclear propulsion, wind energy and other renewables and battery technology to do five-minute videos which we plan to release regularly for access by members and potentially the general public also.”
“The intention is that Mohammed and I will develop the introductory video, which will explain the expanded remit of the SIG and the rename,” Dr Reynolds adds. Rather than going down the route of presentations and papers, both Dr Reynolds and Captain Shafique wish to reach out, share resources and strengthen connections with IMarEST members with these engaging video snapshots.
Beyond the camera, the SIG is considering other means of achieving its objectives. Captain Shafique suggests that workshops, lectures, articles, activity in London Maritime Week and working with other institutes, as well as joint seminars that have common or overlapping objectives are all being considered. Both encourage members to get in touch with any additional suggestions to achieve both the SIG and the Institute’s objectives.
Widening the knowledge base and welcoming new members
The SIG Committee is currently compiling lists of technical experts or those with operational experience of the ‘alternative technologies’ willing to contribute a five-minute video covering their specialist subject or operational experience of relevant technologies. Dr Reynolds and Captain Shafique are particularly interested in hearing from those who may be able to contribute in the field of marine nuclear fuel, electric energy storage technologies, wind energy and battery technology.
Highlighting the voluntary nature of the SIG’s work, both chairs welcome new members to get in touch.
To become a member of the IMarEST Ship Energy and Environment SIG, log in to My IMarEST, click on My Special Interest Groups and then tick the boxes of the SIGs you'd like to join. You can also join the group(s) on Nexus, our networking platform.
Technical experts willing to do a five-minute video can find contact details for the SIG co-chairs here. If you are not a member of the IMarEST but wish to put yourself forward, please email technical@imarest.org.
Clarissa Wright is a freelance journalist and editor of NatureEvolve