Clean Energy Supply on board of Seagoing Vessels

Fuel cells are an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional aggregates onboard of ships. Today, on the occasion of the international exhibition for the shipping industry (SMM), the summarized results of the lighthouse project e4ships are presented to the public for the first time. With the use of climate-friendly fuel cells on ships the project e4ships aims to reduce pollutant emissions signifi cantly. At the same time, questions regarding effi ciency and development of international safety standards and regulations will be answered. This is done by testing fuel cell systems on board of seagoing vessels. The project is funded by the Federal Government under the National Innovation Program Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP).

In two demonstration projects under the lead of Meyer Werft and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, the e4ships partners have developed fuel cell systems for seagoing vessels for the market, to implement them and to test them under everyday conditions.

In the project e4ships, the use of fuel cells on ships has been successfully demonstrated. The tested systems provide the opportunity of a highly effi cient cogeneration (CHP) also on board of ships. Compared with conventional systems that are operated with marine diesel or heavy oil, signifi cant reductions of noise and emissions could be proved. In addition, the modular approach offers a fl exible and safe design on board. The results of the project have gone into the international regulation development to enable basically the use of alternative fuels and fuel cells in international shipping in the future.

State Council Dr. Ralf Bösinger, Hamburg Ministry for Economy, Transport and Innovation, Achim Wehrmann, representing the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Bernard Meyer, Managing Director MEYER WERFT, Dr. Reinhard Lüken, Managing Director German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM) and Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, Managing Director National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) present the current state of developments and an overview of the future activities in this sector.

State Council Dr. Rolf Bösinger, Ministry for Economy, Transport and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg:
“The project e4ships is an ideal addition to the development of innovative infrastructure for ships in ports like LNG as new technological solutions for the reduction of emissions for ships are tested for the fi rst time. The use of fuel cells results in a signifi cant improvement of the air quality, which is particularly important for ports and coastal areas. Hamburg very much welcomes these activities as they provide a relevant contribution to a better quality of life in the city.”

Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure:
“The use of fuel cell technology in the shipping industry within the lighthouse project e4ships is another step to answer the question how to reduce emissions of ships. It has become clear that the German shipbuilding industry is on the right track. With the achieved technological lead the German industry becomes safe and more sustainable. The project e4ships has reached a milestone in the use of climate-friendly systems for ships.”

Bernard Meyer, Managing Director MEYER WERFT:
„In the demonstration project Pa-X-ell methanol operated high temperature PEM fuel cells for seagoing passenger vessels are developed, adapted and tested. A demonstration plant on the premises of the Meyer Werft shipyard has been used for fi rst technical examinations to test reliability and suitability for the maritime sector. For a fi rst maritime demonstration, a 90 kW system has been installed in addition to the conventional energy supply on the Scandinavian ferry MS Mariella. The fuel cell system is based on standardized modular units which can be scaled by connecting to any performance capacities. This way, the new resulting energy modules are supposed to be the basis of a decentralized network on board in the future.“

Keno Leites, Project Manager e4ships at thyssenkrupp Marine Systems:
„The focus of the demonstration project SchIBZ is the development of a diesel-operated hybrid fuel cell system with a scalable capacity of 100 to 500 kW for seagoing ships. As the main power source it is supposed to assume the power supply of all kinds of seagoing vessels. For a practical testing at sea a 50 kW system has been built in a container and is tested on the MS Forester in real operations as a power supply system. Low-sulfur diesel, as already used in road traffic, is employed as a fuel. In the medium term it is aimed to use alternatively natural gas as an energy source too.“

Dr. Reinhard Lüken, General Managing Director German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM):
„On the international level, shipbuilding and shipping are highly regulated. Therefore the e4ships results have been successfully introduced into the relevant instruments of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Herewith the international legal basis to use fuel cells commercially has been created. The German shipbuilding industry thrives on environmental innovation and its commercialization. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of the fuel cell technology other alternative fuel sources must be approved.“

Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, Managing Director National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW):
„The hydrogen and fuel cell technology is developing real alternatives for the specifi c needs of the shipping industry and is a technologically innovative response to climate protection issues. Especially in ports and coastal areas fuel cell systems on board of ships can contribute signifi cantly to the improvement of the air quality. In the future, it makes sense to use the drive for smaller vessels too. The success of the project is based on the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). In 2017, the NIP enters a new phase which especially aims to create the framework conditions necessary for the commercial market breakthrough of the technology.“

Dr. Heike Deggim, Deputy Director of International Maritime Organization (IMO):
“Alternative fuels and energy converters as, for example fuel cells, can certainly play an important part in promoting green shipping. The IMO welcomes the technical input of NGOs, as for example the European Shipyards’ Associations CESA, which, with the results of F&E projects, can contribute to an industry-tailored development of regulations.”

Press contact:
Ms. Kathrin Ehlert-Larsen, German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM), via E-Mail: ehlert-larsen@vsm.de or via phone:: +49-40-28 01 52 36

On Wednesday the 31st of August, the “Bildungsschraube” was awarded for the 14th time in the youth hostel in Papenburg. The awards were presented within the context of a festive ceremony, during which the CEO, Lambert Kruse, and HR Manager, Paul Bloem, honoured the employees of MEYER WERFT who had successfully completed a great variety of further training measures in 2015 and 2016 as a sign of ongoing learning. The trainees were also presented with their training certificates.

The Bildungsschraube is a shipyard-internal award. It symbolises locomotion and propulsion and stands for the employees’ continued training and constant acquisition of new knowledge. The employees’ good initial training and constant advanced training ensure the requisite high expertise and quality standard that is essential to satisfy the increasing technical and economic demands pertaining to the construction of highly complex cruise liners.

“Well-educated employees are an invaluable asset for MEYER WERFT. The foundation for this is laid with an excellent initial training. Only the employees’ continuous professional development, as an important element in organising their working lives, ensures the company’s long-term survival in a highly challenging market. We have wonderful and motivated employees who, thanks to their development, have taken the company to where it is today and, first and foremost, would like to take it further, so as to be in a position to face the future challenges,” said Lambert Kruse on the occasion of the award ceremony, visibly impressed by their achievements.

Paul Bloem praised the employees’ commitment and dedication. “Education is exceptionally important and changes us people. It is important to fill our lives with work that gives us pleasure. Every year more than 5,000 qualification measures are carried out throughout the shipyard.”

The training measures, such as master’s and bachelor’s programmes, master craftsman and technician courses or further education measures to qualify as technical managers, were performed in cooperation with chambers of commerce and crafts, vocational schools, universities/technical colleges and other regional and national educational institutions. In addition to this, numerous participants also contributed own financial means and hours from their working time accounts for these educational measures.

Float-out likely to start on 19th August 2016

On 19th August 2016 the 151, 300-gt cruise ship GENTING DREAM will float out of MEYER WERFT's covered building dock II. Over the last few weeks the shipyard has been busy conducting extensive tests, interior work and machinery trials. The float-out of the ship, which is built for the Asian cruise operator Dream Cruises, will commence around 14.00 p.m. Following the float-out and more tests to be carried out in the harbor, the ship will be berthed alongside the yard's outfitting pier.

Delays in the time schedule due to weather conditions may occur.

With the ship being berthed at the yard's pier, the remaining work as well as tests and trials will be carried out in the next few days. The GENTING DREAM´s conveyance down the river Ems towards the North Sea, where she will prove her seaworthiness, is scheduled for mid-September 2016.

The 151,300 gt cruise ship has a length overall of 335 m and is 39,70 m wide. Its construction complies with the latest safety standards, and the ship meets all valid environmental regulations.

The float-out will be broadcast via webcam on www.meyerwerft.com

The Meyer family is building ships since 221 years. Ever since, the family company’s success relied on a long-term approach that aimed to develop the technology, advance the skill-set of employees, and reinvest profits. The basis for this success is a stable ownership structure. To ensure this stability also for the future, the family has decided to donate its shares into family foundations. The legal form of a German family foundation is a proven framework to ensure a longterm stable ownership in a single hand supporting the sustainable development of the shipyards in Turku, Papenburg and Warnemünde.

The Meyer family business has developed from a small local shipyard in Papenburg / Germany to a global market leader in its sophisticated niche market of cruise ships, ferries and special ships with three shipyards in two countries. The Meyer family business has survived and thrived over 221 years in the difficult and highly competitive global shipbuilding market. During all these years the demand for ships has been very volatile and the pace of technological change has accelerated.

To survive in such a market the Meyer family has employed a long-term approach to develop the technology, advance the skills of the shipyard employees and to reinvest profits. The basis for this all is a stable ownership – also for future generations.

Now the next family generation is entering the business: Dr. Jan Meyer (39) is in the family business since 2008 and the CEO of Meyer Turku Oy, since 2014. Since 1st of June, 2016, Tim Meyer (34) has entered the family business as one of the managing directors at Meyer Werft in Papenburg. Furthermore Dr. Paul Meyer (33) is taking over the responsibility for the IT of all shipyards as CIO.

To reflect the new constellation, the Meyer family has decided to donate its shares into two family foundations. Hence in the future one family foundation will be the long-term owner of Meyer Turku Oy and another family foundation will own the shares in the German Meyer family companies. The operative management will not be affected by the introduction of the foundations.

“Family foundations are for us the ideal framework to maintain a single and stable owner for the shipyards in Turku, Papenburg and Warnemünde – also for future generations. By this step we want to secure the core success factors of our long-term success and maintain the character of a family company.”, highlights Bernard Meyer.

Dr Paul Meyer becomes CIO

Digital transformation and Industry 4.0 are playing an increasingly important role for European shipyards to remain competitive and stand out from their rivals. In future, MEYER WERFT will be putting a greater focus on pooling its IT expertise and standardising the software across all its sites. Dr Paul Meyer (33) is the new CIO (Chief Information Officer) with overall IT responsibility (information technology) for the shipyards in Papenburg, Rostock and Turku. "Paul will create the IT basis for close cooperation between our sites”, comments CEO Dr Jan Meyer.

Paul Meyer, youngest son of Bernard Meyer with a PhD in business IT, has been project leader for IT projects at MEYER WERFT since 2013. ”IT plays a crucial role for companies involved in the construction of highly complex products such as cruise ships. Digital transformation is presenting us with major challenges in this field. Paul Meyer has already started to deal with this project as IT project leader and will now continue to do so right across all our sites,“ says CEO Lambert Kruse.