Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

1 1 9 alternative. Ultimately, we might be moving towards hydrogen-derived fuels like ammonia. But there’s a lot of R&D to be done first. Van der Linden : On the hardware side, I’d say improved hydrodynamics, energy storage systems and internal combustion engines with fuel flexibility. Over the coming decades, internal combustion engines will become the most versatile power source for large ferries and they will be able to run on multiple new climate-neutral fuels, so there’s a great incentive for designing and developing flexible engine designs and power systems today. In terms of software, data science and AI technologies. Westling : It depends on the type of ship and operational patterns, but in general, energy carriers without carbon molecules such as ammonia are very interesting, as are fuels produced by wind, solar energy and carbon capture and storage. Is it foolhardy to believe that technology will help make ferries the greenest mode of transport? What other factors will be essential to achieving this goal? Belle : Not at all. The maritime industry is already one of the most environmentally friendly travel sectors, second only to the automobile industry. Advances in technology will only further the maritime ambition. However, we must also change the mindset of customers and their perception of ferry travel. Mathieu : No, being the greenest mode of transport must be our goal – we can’t accept that other forms of transport will decarbonise and reduce their environmental footprint ahead of us. However, there’s one essential factor that we need to achieve this goal: the political will to force change. That doesn’t mean regulation or costly trading schemes, but support for R&D and incentives like ecobonus to encourage the take-up of the latest technologies. Van der Linden : Ferries will still play a big role in eco-friendly short-sea transport in future, but their shape and size will change. Automated and even autonomous ferries will emerge sooner rather than later, and just-in-time transport will be essential to keep our European economy healthy and competitive. Westling : Ferries will always be an environmentally friendly way of moving people and freight compared to flying or using motorways. The only way we can become truly sustainable in future is to find new solutions through R&D. CFR Honfleur will be able to run on LNG fuel to help Brittany Ferries’ lower its emissions