On October 8th, representatives from the CirclesofLife and EcoShipYard projects held a productive online meeting, bringing together 15 participants, including the Project Coordinator and Project Manager for Dissemination and Communication activities from both projects. The meeting marked a significant step forward in fostering collaboration and aligning efforts toward sustainable practices in shipbuilding and shipyard operations.
The participants kicked off the meeting with a roundtable discussion where each member introduced themselves, setting the stage for a series of collaborative initiatives. The primary focus of the discussion was the organization of four main events aimed at strengthening the partnership and achieving shared objectives. The first major event will be a Joint Workshop scheduled to take place in Hamburg in December 2024. This workshop will be a key opportunity for stakeholders from both projects to exchange knowledge, discuss innovative solutions, and explore best practices for reducing the environmental impact of shipyards.
About CirclesofLife
CirclesofLife is dedicated to addressing the profound changes in market conditions and regulatory frameworks affecting the shipping industry and shipyards. The project’s primary goal is to make the environmental footprint of shipyard activities more transparent, understandable, and measurable throughout the entire life cycle of a ship. While current standards adequately cover the operational phase of ships, there remains a significant gap in assessing the non-operational footprint of shipyard processes, integrated materials, and components.
To tackle this, CirclesofLife is developing and validating a scientifically sound SEPI-methodology and a Cradle2Cradle Ship Passport. These tools aim to close the assessment gaps and drive progress towards circular, zero-impact shipping. The project will test these methodologies in various real-world use cases, including new builds, repair and maintenance, and recycling yards. CirclesofLife is committed to creating a widely accepted standard that will empower shipyards, maritime equipment manufacturers, shipping companies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to compare the environmental footprint of ships and shipyards effectively. The initiative is supported by NGOs such as Surfrider and ShipBreaking Platform to ensure a trusted and independent approach.
To learn more about CirclesofLife and get in touch, visit https://circles-of-life.eu/.
About EcoShipYard
EcoShipYard focuses on reducing the environmental impact of shipyards by increasing energy efficiency, optimizing operations, and managing material circularity. The project aims to explore innovative ways to minimize the non-operational impacts of shipbuilding activities by developing an EU-material passport for ships, which will enable better management of materials throughout their lifecycle.
The EcoShipYard consortium consists of shipyards, research organizations, and technology providers from various EU member states, all working together to drive sustainable practices within the industry.
To learn more about EcoShipYard and get in touch, visit https://ecoshipyard.eu/.
Strengthening Collaboration Towards a Greener Maritime Industry
The collaboration between CirclesofLife and EcoShipYard represents a significant effort to address the environmental challenges facing the maritime industry. By aligning their objectives and combining expertise, the projects aim to establish new standards and practices that will benefit the entire industry. The upcoming Joint Workshop in Hamburg will be the first of many initiatives designed to foster knowledge exchange, drive innovation, and pave the way for sustainable shipbuilding and shipyard operations across Europe.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting collaboration as we continue to work towards a cleaner, greener future for the maritime sector.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 101138730. UK participation in EcoShipYard Project is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe guarantee [grant-number 10120898].
