The IMO CARES Maritime Technology Global Challenge was launched in November 2023 to identify technology solutions to accelerate decarbonisation in domestic shipping and ports in Africa and the Caribbean region. The judging panel, comprising of government representatives from the beneficiary countries, academia, industry associations, and Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs), shortlisted three solutions from the 21 participating technology companies. The beneficiary country’s government made the final choice of technology solution, considering their needs and the technical specifications of selected ports and vessels. The three selected technology providers worked closely with the beneficiary ports, respective MTCCs, and other relevant stakeholders to develop a detailed technical proposal for a potential demonstration in the targeted countries. Below is a summary of the winning technology proposals:
1.BioH2Energy: GHG Reduction in Maritime Operations with Circular Bio-derived Fuels and Hydrogen Technologies
- Technology Provider: Clean Marine Shipping (United Kingdom)
- Proposed Solution: Integrating CMS BioH2Energy technology at Port Louis, showcasing the conversion of organic waste into energy and the reduction of GHG emissions. The project proposes to build a 100kW system converting two tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) providing 2.4 megawatts electricity displacement of the port’s current electricity grid consumption per day. The system will achieve net negative emissions, eliminating 0.045 grams of GHG per kWh, or 39.42 metric tonnes annually in addition to displacement of existing emissions produced by existing thermal generation.
- Proposed GHG reduction:
- The BioH2Energy system displaces 100kW per hour of port of Port Louis current electricity grid consumption generated from of thermal sources at -0.045 gCO2e/KWh.
2. Port Call Data Sharing for improved efficiency and reduced emission “DigiPort”
- Technology Provider: BM Bergmann Marine GmbH (Germany) and Marine Fields Holding Ltd (Cyprus).
- Proposed Solution: Implement a solution based on the port call data sharing platform PERSEUS in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) concept. The project proposes to customise the PERSEUS data sharing platform to allow all actors in the port and the port state authorities to gain direct access to port call data, which is the prerequisite for implementing “Just-In-Time” operations and automated reporting. The PERSEUS system will enable the port to reduce Total Turnaround Time, improve port facility utilization, and reduce associated GHG emissions.
- Proposed GHG reduction:
- CO2 and other ship emissions reduction for Container ships operations from 99.7 kgCO₂e/TEU to 92 kgCO₂e/TEU (7.72% reduction).
- 10% reduction for ships other than container ships.
- Shorter waiting time at the anchorage (reduced ship emissions not quantified in the proposal)
- GHG emission in amount of 5 percent by optimising tugboat services.
3. Decarbonization of St Kitts Basseterre Port Using Renewable Energy-Powered Microgrid
- Technology Provider: SYG TECH (Turkey)
- Proposed Solution: Installing and integrating a SYG TECH Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, at the SCASPA Sea Port microgrid with aim to reduce 46% of the port’s GHG emissions.
- Proposed GHG reduction:
- 46% reduction in the port’s GHG emissions.