Marine industry continually challenged to be more sustainable - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania news
by Peter Rendle 13 Oct 2022 15:00 PDT
CMB.TECH and Volvo Penta strengthen collaboration in dual-fuel technology © Volvo Penta
The challenge facing the marine industry in becoming more sustainable proceeds unabated. This week, and building on a successful collaboration, Volvo Penta and CMB.TECH announced a partnership agreement designed to accelerate the development of dual-fuel hydrogen-powered solutions for both land and sea applications.
The strengthened collaboration will include joint projects ranging from pilots to small scale industrialization, providing increased access to this important technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
CMB.TECH owns, operates, and designs large marine and industrial applications powered by hydrogen and ammonia, fuels that it both manufactures and supplies to its customers. Volvo Penta is a world-leading and global manufacturer of engines and complete power systems for boats, vessels, and industrial applications. The companies have worked together in pilot projects since 2017 successfully adapting Volvo Penta engines to run as a dual-fuel hydrogen and diesel solution via the conversion kit provided by CMB.TECH.
While not totally related to the future of the boating market, we believe it is worth keeping abreast of anything involving sails and that includes the attempt at the wind-powered land speed record. With the record being so heavily dependent on Mother Nature, Glenn Ashby and the team on Lake Gairdner, South Australia, are having to constantly monitor the weather and the windows of opportunity presented each day to get out for vital runs in 'Horonuku' and learn the incremental lessons that will push them closer to the World Record speeds.
"The surface has really dried out quite a lot over the past two or three days," explained pilot Ashby. "We have made a couple of tire changes, a couple of configuration changes and the plan is for us to basically step up the speed and see how it is gripping on the surface. Every day, every little learning is a great experience. We haven't really pushed the speeds much over 150km/h in this craft yet, so hopefully over the next few days we will get the opportunity with the weather."
The team managed to get four runs squeezed into the afternoon session in a breeze of 15-18 knots and Ashby and the team were pleased with the progression forward.
The 60th Melbourne Boat Show is fast approaching and at the time of writing, is just seven days away. It has been three years and there's a great appetite for boats and boating lifestyle, and a huge crowd is building. Already over 10,000 tickets have been pre-booked. A figure that exceeds all pre-bookings for previous boat shows! There are over 70 fantastic Exhibitors, and their Brand list is amazing.
The much-anticipated event is at the Melbourne City Marina and all along Newquay Promenade, Docklands from 20-23 October. The open hours are 3-7pm on the Thursday, 10am-7pm on the Friday and Saturday, and 10am-4pm on the Sunday.
A revolution in boat-building spawned by Australian ingenuity has burst onto the scene, unveiled to the strains of AC/DC's "Back in Black" at decibels loud enough to attract global interest. The perennial quest of building game boats to be light, fast and efficient has challenged designers for decades. Advances in hull design and props made of titanium reduced weight and drag, but still owners demand faster boats.
Levi Duncan and the team at his new venture, Element Composites, have devised a solution: a world-first, 100 percent carbon fibre towers, custom designed for game fishing boats; not just stronger and lighter than aluminium or stainless steel, but foiled with an elliptical frame for aerodynamic advantage.
The Marina Industries Association (MIA) is pleased to announce The Jetty Specialist as a valued Bronze Sponsor. A family-owned and operated business based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, for more than three decades The Jetty Specialist has constructed high quality marine structures including pontoons, piles, jetties, footbridges, marinas and boardwalks.
Operating nationally, The Jetty Specialist is a trusted business in the commercial and residential marina sector, offering a huge range of products and design solutions that can be easily adapted to project-specific requirements. "They have a great, innovative product and a solid reputation, particularly on the Sunshine Coast. Marina builders like The Jetty Specialist are the backbone of the marina industry, and it is great to see this support for the industry," MIA CEO Suzanne Davies said.
Across the ditch, Emirates Team New Zealand was recognised alongside the best of New Zealand design industry at The Designers Institute Best Design Awards 2022 on Friday evening at Auckland's Aotea Centre where the team received the prestigious "Value of Design Black Pin". The award is to "a company that champions the power of good design, over many years, to create massive impact."
Throughout its 30-year history Emirates Team New Zealand has become renowned for pushing the envelope of design and innovation across all of its campaigns in the America's Cup and into the international marine sector.
Further news from NZ includes New Zealand and South Pacific Zodiac distributor, Lusty & Blundell Ltd, who have chosen top Auckland marine dealer Family Boats to be their first "big RIB" retailer. Family Boats, which is based in East Tamaki, will be selling Zodiac's larger, Mediterranean-manufactured RIBs, ranging from the Open 3.1m centre console up to the impressive 7.5-metre Medline.
All will feature Zodiac's renowned GRP hulls, top-quality UV-resistant Neoprene tubes and the company's patented "thermo-bonding" manufacturing process, which offers unparalleled durability and seams that are virtually indestructible. Family Boats' Peter Carlson says he expects the Zodiac range to prove extremely popular.
More industry news at www.marinebusinessworld.com/Oceania
Leisure powerboat tests and news at powerboat.world/Oceania
Racing sailing news at www.sail-world.com/Australia
Stay dry,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com