Introduction to the Maritime Industry
Around 11 billion tons of goods, or about 1.5 tons per person worldwide, are transported by sea each year, representing about 90 percent of global trade by volume. Internationally, the merchant shipping fleet numbers around 110,000 vessels. These ships, and the ports that service them, are significant contributors to the local and global economy — and they’re significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
A New Consortium to Address Emissions
A new consortium, formalized in a signing ceremony at MIT last week, aims to address climate-harming emissions in the maritime shipping industry, while supporting efforts for environmentally friendly operation in compliance with the decarbonization goals set by the International Maritime Organization. “This is a timely collaboration with key stakeholders from the maritime industry with a very bold and interdisciplinary research agenda that will establish new technologies and evidence-based standards,” says Themis Sapsis, the William Koch Professor of Marine Technology at MIT and the director of MIT’s Center for Ocean Engineering.
The MIT Maritime Consortium
The newly-launched MIT Maritime Consortium (MC) brings together MIT collaborators from across campus, including the Center for Ocean Engineering, which is housed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering; the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS); the departments of Nuclear Science and Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering; MIT Sea Grant; and others, with a national and an international community of industry experts. The Maritime Consortium’s founding members are the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp., and HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering. Innovation members are Foresight-Group, Navios Maritime Partners L.P., Singapore Maritime Institute, and Dorian LPG.
Research Areas
Researchers will explore new designs for nuclear systems consistent with the techno-economic needs and constraints of commercial shipping, economic and environmental feasibility of alternative fuels, new data-driven algorithms and rigorous evaluation criteria for autonomous platforms in the maritime space, cyber-physical situational awareness and anomaly detection, as well as 3D printing technologies for onboard manufacturing. Collaborators will also advise on research priorities toward evidence-based standards related to MIT presidential priorities around climate, sustainability, and AI.
Collaboration and Impact
“The challenges the maritime industry faces are challenges that no individual company or organization can address alone,” says Fotini Christia, the Ford International Professor of the Social Sciences. “The solution involves almost every discipline from the School of Engineering, as well as AI and data-driven algorithms, and policy and regulation — it’s a true MIT problem.” The consortium’s academic home at MIT also opens the door to cross-departmental collaboration across the Institute.
Launching Research Projects
The MC will launch multiple research projects designed to tackle challenges from a variety of angles, all united by cutting-edge data analysis and computation techniques. Collaborators will research new designs and methods that improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, explore feasibility of alternative fuels, and advance data-driven decision-making, manufacturing and materials, hydrodynamic performance, and cybersecurity.
Conclusion
The MIT Maritime Consortium has the potential to be a game-changer in the maritime industry, bringing together top researchers and industry experts to address the pressing issue of greenhouse gas emissions. With its interdisciplinary approach and cutting-edge research agenda, the consortium is well-positioned to drive progress and provide innovative solutions to the challenges facing the industry.
FAQs
- What is the main goal of the MIT Maritime Consortium?
The main goal of the MIT Maritime Consortium is to address climate-harming emissions in the maritime shipping industry and support efforts for environmentally friendly operation. - What are the research areas of the consortium?
The research areas include new designs for nuclear systems, alternative fuels, autonomous platforms, cyber-physical situational awareness, and 3D printing technologies. - Who are the founding members of the consortium?
The founding members are the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp., and HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering. - What is the expected outcome of the consortium’s research projects?
The expected outcome is to improve efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advance data-driven decision-making, manufacturing and materials, hydrodynamic performance, and cybersecurity in the maritime industry.
