by Przemysław Myszka
Another year found its way under our belt - a round 20th in our publication's journey! Are there any other reasons for it to make history? Some may say that shipping becoming part of the European Union Emissions Trading System was such a happening.
In this context, we reported this year on the many future-oriented developments from across the Baltic Sea region, on- and offshore, especially green ones as encapsulated in our Baltic Green Map and its Catalogue (updated seven times this year, which gives a pretty good understanding that our corner of the world makes hay while the sun shines in a time when one increasingly needs to embrace change).
Talking of change, the Legal column houses two articles on marine insurance and how it's impacted by climate change and geopolitics. Sustainability focuses on decarbonisation of the port and shipping industries - first, by crafting a strategy, then by implementing concrete measures, such as green methanol for bunkering or using simulators for training (here with the bonus of heightened safety).
This theme follows in Technology, including a piece on removing carbon dioxide from seawater (on a gigatonne scale!). This section also digs into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in mobility & logistics - and specifically how Europe intends to make the use of this revolutionary tech efficient, safe, and ethical. Another AI-focused read starts by citing a claim that this technology will result in changes beyond our imagination (no worries, the article itself goes through more tangible applications of the different AI types).
Technology also features what I believe is BTJ's second article from Japan, this time on learning from nature how to create a hull paint that helps shipowners & operators cut fuel consumption, hence their carbon footprint (and if I remember correctly, that first made-in-Japan read was about using modern sails as auxiliary propulsion; lo-and-behold, a few years later and several companies, also from the Baltic, are producing such equipment; what's more, wind-assisted propulsion comes with a bonus in EU regulations aimed at making shipping greener).
The Maritime column hosts the comeback of our Roving Editor and his summary of Baltic and European shipyards' performance in 2022-23. Here, heavyweight keywords are "cruise," "cruise," and "cruise" (with a healthy pinch of fishing, at least in the Baltic). In this section, we also celebrate our partner's anniversary, with 2024 marking the 50th birthday of Liebherr's mobile harbour cranes. Congrats!
We wish you a peaceful end of the year and a favourable wind in 2025! Oh, and nothing but a good read, too!
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