Focus on the environment

Wärtsilä article, 19 August 2011

Producer: Mirja-Maija Santala, Wärtsilä Corporation
Text: Jari Setälä

The article has originally been published on Association of Finnish Marine Industry's website

Ships account for roughly 90% of all transportation and are the most efficient means of transport. Additional environmental requirements are on the horizon, aimed at making shipping even more sustainable. Today, technology companies such as Wärtsilä are working to offer their customers sustainable and sound solutions for their business.

‘The shipping industry is undergoing major change. That change involves focus on the environment. And whenever there is change, there is also great opportunity,’ says Wärtsilä’s Leonardo Sonzio.

Sonzio works as the director of Environmental Services at Wärtsilä’s headquarters. He and his team support the customers in working with new practices and advise on the technologies that could be adopted to ensure sustainability.

‘Shipping is a fundamental part of our society and our modern economies. That’s why we need constant development, making ships an ever more sustainable means of transport,’ Sonzio says.

New regulations have been introduced in recent years to address the issue. Most of the coming regulations are aimed at efficiency improvements and reduction of air pollution.

‘Some of the new regulations are challenging from a financial perspective: ship-owners will have to invest in additional technologies to be installed onboard,’ Sonzio says.

Sonzio points out that environmentally sound industry practices will increase overall productivity in the long run. ‘Fuel-efficiency improvements correlate directly with cost savings. This is particularly important in view of rising fuel oil prices,’ he says.

He predicts a bright future for the marine industry.

‘Transport by sea is the most efficient method of transportation when raw materials and large amounts of products are involved. I’m certain it will remain that way,’ Sonzio says.

Read this article in Finnish:Ympäristöystävällistä meriliikennettä PDF, 79Kb »