IMarEST to confer on ship propulsion, compliance November 27-28The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) will hold its Ship Propulsion Systems Conference in London from November 27-28 in its continuing quest to find technologies to achieve efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Frequently driven by regulation, as much as the bottom line, propulsion lies at the centre of developing economic and environmentally-friendly shipping operations, said the organisers. 

The aim of the conference is to help owners and operators make the choices they face in deciding which equipment and propulsion systems best suit their future needs, and to manage their current requirements.

Chaired by John Carlton FREng, FIMarEST, professor of Marine Engineering at City University London, and a past president of IMarEST, the conference will kick off with his keynote address on the Royal Academy of Engineering Report on Future Ship Powering Options. 

Other topics coming under the conference spotlight on the first day include "Implications of fuel price on shipping economics"; "Importance of the ship as a system"; "Future developments of both slow and medium speed engines and gas engine developments" and a suite of presentations on new fuels and alternative energy - methanol, LNG, biofuels, fuel cells, and battery development and hybrid power.

The second day will see the emphasis move to "Enhancing Propulsion Efficiencies" with plans for topics such as "thrusters, propulsion efficiency, hull designs and coatings" and "Emissions and Operational Improvements" including a regulation update for NOx Tier III, the effect of operational practice on CO2 emissions, new approaches to the sulphur challenge and weather routing.