The Bellona Foundation has signed an agreement with Damen Shipyards Group to explore and develop concept vessels.

Under the terms of three-year agreement, the companies will work towards reducing the environmental impact of a wide range of commercial and leisure vessels, as well as fleets employed by the aquaculture industry.

Bellona founder and president Frederic Hauge said: "Today the global shipping industry emits large amounts of CO2, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other gases harmful to the climate and environment, and the European fleet is large and in need of renewal.

"One of Bellona’s goals is to make the ships of the future independent of fossil fuels.

"This partnership will provide us with new knowledge on innovative shipping construction that will contribute towards achieving that objective."

Damen sales manager Remko Hottentot said: "At Damen the focus will be on creating alternative solutions that contribute to reducing harmful maritime emissions into both the air and the water.

"This will go hand in hand with initiatives to develop cost-effective efficiencies through reduced consumption of potentially harmful inputs such as fuel, paint and lubricating oil.

"During this long-term relationship we foresee, in general, a valuable focus on co-operating in the creation of environmental technical sustainable solutions and the fostering of political support."

Bellona has a 29-year track record of working on maritime political matters at a high international level and claims that the partnership will improve its capability to influence both the Norwegian and European shipping industries.

Damen operates 32 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. The company has delivered more than 5,000 vessels to more than 100 countries to date.

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Image: Bellona and Damen Shipyards have partnered to explore and develop concept vessels. Photo: courtesy of Bellona.