Editor’s choice: The Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo North America Conference presentations you can’t afford to miss

With just six weeks to go until the maritime industry’s premier event – Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo North America – Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International editor-in-chief Matt Ross selects a few of his speaker highlights from the upcoming Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo North America conference. The conference takes place alongside the exhibition, which will be staged at the Long Beach Convention Center, California, on March 13 & 14, 2024. Click here to view the full program and book your conference pass here.

Crowley’s eWolf at Port of San Diego: the United States’ first electric tug
(From the Port of San Diego, Dr Thomas MacLean, program director, policy and energy and Zach Birmingham, senior environmental specialist; Kelvin Ellis, account manager for the Port of San Diego, San Diego Gas and Electric; Paul Manzi, VP of ship assist and escort, Crowley Shipping)
MR: I’ve been following the eWolf electric tugboat project for some time now, and this presentation will bring together key members of the team that has brought the program to life. Thomas MacLean from Port of San Diego will direct the presentation, Greg Glover from Crowley Maritime will speak about how the concept for the eWolf came to fruition, Zach Birmingham will provide the perspective of the port, and Kelvin Ellis from San Diego Gas and Electric will provide insight into utility considerations. The experts will also be taking questions at the end of the presentation.

A barge-based approach to lowering harbor emissions
(Michael Complita, principal in charge – VP strategic expansion, Elliott Bay Design Group)
MR: It’s equally important to examine maritime decarbonization from the perspective of the ports and harbors, so I’m looking forward to learning more about Elliott Bay Design Group’s alternative approach to conventional shore power provision. The company’s mobile barge-based approach seems to be a fascinating project and could be a key tool in electrifying vessels at anchor and at berth.

The role of hybrids on the path to decarbonization
(Dave Adams, senior sales manager, Wärtsilä)
MR: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to marine electrification, nor is it a straight line between today and a zero-emissions future. So a chance to listen to one of the experts at Wärtsilä explain the key role of hybrid vessels, and the key steps in implementing efficient and optimized hybridized propulsion, is not to be missed.

The reality of shore charging for hybrid and electric ferries
(Drew Orvieto, senior manager, passenger vessels, marine and ports, ABB Marine & Ports)
MR: Shore charging remains a key area of technological development if the path to decarbonizing the maritime sector is to be successful. And few know more about this subject than the team at ABB. Drew Orvieto’s presentation will explore the challenging reality of designing, implementing and maintaining shore charging systems for hybrid and electric ferries – and will include testimonials and real-world charging data from multiple ferry operators.

The future of hydrogen power in maritime applications
(John Motlow, chief strategy officer, Zero Emission Industries)
MR: It’s clear that hydrogen will play a key role in the marine industry’s propulsion future, so this will be a fantastic opportunity to hear from ZEI and discover what the company has learned from its project to develop a commuter ferry powered by hydrogen fuel cells – and how it sees its power and fueling systems fitting in to future projects.

Green corridors and zero-emission fuels
(Andrew Waddell, senior associate, climate-aligned industries, Rocky Mountain Institute)
MR: The idea of green corridors – identifying, analyzing and solving issues of fuel choices, costs and infrastructure for specific shipping routes – will be key to helping vessel and fleet operators determine their future plans in a landscape that is constantly shifting and evolving. I’m looking forward to hearing Andrew Waddell’s thoughts on how these corridors can help develop paths to zero-emission shipping practices.

Energy storage for marine vessels: challenges and technological evolution
(Guillaume Clement, vice president e-marine, Leclanché)
MR: This presentation will outline issues of energy storage aboard marine vessels with regard to sustainability imperatives and evolving regulatory frameworks. I’ve met Guillaume a couple of times, and I know this will be a presentation worth attending. He’ll be highlighting the challenges the marine market will face and the opportunities offered by lithium-ion battery storage, touching on several case studies.

Marine propulsion unlocking hidden benefits beyond environmental compliance
(James Edwards, chief engineer, Helix)
MR: One of the things we try to explore in the magazine is the benefit that electrification and hybridization bring to the marine sector – beyond the environmental advantages. So it’s fascinating to see a presentation asking exactly that: how could these advances in propulsion systems unlock new possibilities for the vessels of tomorrow?

Unlocking the potential of ammonia for zero-emission shipping
(Dr Maciek Lukawski, VP, strategy and business development, Amogy)
MR: We often hear of the possibilities that may be offered by ammonia as a fuel source, so it will be interesting to hear more about how ammonia is gaining traction as an alternative fuel to decarbonize sectors such as maritime shipping. This presentation will compare the pros and cons of ammonia with other alternative fuels, and chart Amogy’s progress in constructing the world’s first ammonia-powered vessel, set to sail in 2024.

REGISTER NOW: There are over 60 presentations to choose from across two days – see the conference program here; and reserve your place here.