E
nvironmental friendliness and energy
efficiency have been on the agenda
of successful shipyards for quite some
time now. For example, Meyer Turku has
built passenger ships featuring the latest
technologies, such as LNG operated ves-
sels with very low emissions, and vessels
with scrubbers and catalytic converters for
reducing emissions of sulphur oxides and
nitrogen oxides. The Turku shipyard also
has expertise in building very energy-effi-
cient vessels with outstanding hydrody-
namic performance and numerous other
energy-saving innovations.
However, when it comes to sustain-
ability, these measures are only a part of
the big picture. Jaana Hänninen, Sustain-
ability Manager of Meyer Turku, says that
sustainability in today’s business is much
more than just energy-efficiency: one has
to consider also such aspects as social and
economic sustainability.
“Also, there are many levels and per-
spectives to sustainability: for example, are
you talking about the product, the process
or the business as a whole?” she asks.
MANAGE THE LIFECYCLE
With Meyer Turku’s thick orderbook, the
shipyard is putting out ships well in to the
2020’s – and has to consider the lifecy-
cle of those vessels very carefully. Mate-
rials have to be sourced in a responsible
way, labour has to be treated fairly – and
the materials themselves are, preferably,
recyclable.
“With regards to hull materials, it’s
Jaana Hänninen, Sustainability Manager of Meyer Turku.
also worthwhile to explore light, durable
options, since lighter ships consume less
fuel,” Hänninen adds. “The sustainability years, the industry players have not dis- with the aim of adding value and sub-
process is a big, complicated puzzle, but covered all the connections and opportu- stance to sustainable business. Coor-
there are many ways to make improve- nities yet. dinated by the University of Turku, the
ments, especially via collaboration with
other parties.”
“However, sustainability is a power- project is called Sustainability and Trans-
ful trend that is only getting stronger. In parency in Shipbuilding Networks (SUSTIS).
For cruise operators, it is vital to order to fully adapt, we need accurate data The research partners include as many as
understand all aspects of sustainability and a transparent process, and we need three units in University of Turku (Future
and get reliable data for their investment to implement cradle-to-cradle thinking for Technologies, Centre for Collaborative
decisions. With appropriate measures, the this industry.” Research, Finland Futures Research Cen-
lifecycle of a modern cruise ship can be
tre) and also VTT Technical Research Centre
extended to 40 years or even more. Hän- COME TOGETHER of Finland. Furthermore, several industry
ninen notes that while sustainability has With this evolution in mind, Meyer Turku partners have their own parallel projects
had a role in the shipbuilding business for has joined an ambitious research project linked to the research project.
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