Page 60 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2022

What are the most significant challenges regard-
ing a shipyard’s infrastructure? Does the increas-
ing size of vessels make you consider develop-
ing new infrastructure to accommodate bigger
vessels?
That is an interesting question, as most
of the world’s larger ships are cargo ves-
sels built in China or South Korea, not
Europe. As regards big cruise vessels,
European shipyards can still accom-
modate them with their existing infra-
structure; however, given the labour
shortages and the need for efficiency
improvements, the industry must invest
in automation and robotisation.

What risk assessment techniques do you apply
to ensure the smooth execution of ship repair
work?
When considering a ship repair project,
shipyards perform a risk assessment to
ensure the safety of the workers and the
ship by following specific guidelines. A
concrete example is the recent “Guide on
NG gas as a marine fuel: Work practices
for maintenance, repair and dry-dock
notably in their production processes. operations”.
Nevertheless, these ambitions also Various guidelines were published follow-
offer promising business opportunities ing the identification of potential safety
in that shipyards will be asked to build risks regarding repair work on LNG-pow-
zero-emission vessels or retrofit exist- ered ships soon after these ships came
ing ones to make them climate-friendly. into operation. This new guide was elab-
For this reason, SEA Europe is fully orated by the Society for Marine Gas
behind the European Green Deal and as a Fuel (SGMF), with the help of SEA
believes it could even help Europe regain Europe’s dedicated working group on
some of its lost markets. Ship Maintenance, Repair and Conversion
But to turn the European Green Deal and and the close cooperation of other stake-
other related political ambitions or envi- holders to provide updated information
ronmental regulations into real business that will ensure the safety of all relevant
success, SEA Europe has been calling parties while executing maintenance or
on policymakers to put in place a proper repair tasks on LNG-powered ships.
framework to restore the level playing How does increasing inflation affect a
field in global shipbuilding. This frame- shipyard’s negotiations with shipowners
work should include trade measures to and suppliers?
support the competitiveness of European Shipowners and the maritime manufac-
shipyards, financially support the signif- turing industry will have to get used to
icant investments needed by the entire inflation quickly. When the world was hit
waterborne sector in research, devel- by more than 10% inflation in the 1980s,
opment and innovation, and transform helpful measures such as price adjust-
shipping and inland navigation into a ment clauses for raw materials and
zero-emission transport mode. It should wage increases were implemented, so
also incentivise the development of green we should do likewise to battle today’s
technologies and sustainable alternative inflation. That said, it is expected that the
fuels and their onboard integration and current inflationary spiral will be short-
support the deployment of green infra- lived as it is a consequence of the Covid
structure or provide incentives for first pandemic. Let’s hope so!
movers.

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