ISQ is dedicated not only to identifying and quantifying environmental impacts, but also to finding solutions that reduce these effects. In pursuit of this goal, ISQ has introduced innovative technologies that tackle the challenges faced by shipyards, including hazardous emissions, waste generation, energy and resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and worker health.

The research examines the potential use of sustainable materials and the optimal technological practices to assess the environmental impact of shipbuilding processes across the entire lifecycle of a ship, while also offering recommendations that promote circularity. This assessment begins with an extensive literature review of state-of-the-art production technologies applicable to shipbuilding, focusing on their ability to lower environmental impacts and their overall ecological performance.

Additionally, the environmental impacts associated with the materials and methods currently used in shipbuilding are evaluated, with special attention given to those areas that require the most improvement. Moreover, a comparative analysis is being conducted between processes from the categories to better understand their relative performances and selected those with a lower environmental impact. Visits to the partner shipyards have further enhanced this understanding by providing insight into the daily operational needs of these facilities, offering a comprehensive perspective on best practices from around the world. In these comparisons the emissions of particulate matter, noise emissions, materials needs, and waste and energy were the impacts evaluated.

For the cutting process, ISQ made the following comparison:

Based on these results, it’s possible to conclude that waterjet cutting has the least environmental impact among the chosen cutting processes. The most critical aspect of this process is water consumption, which can be reduced through the following improvements:

• Chillers: These can lower the water consumption of a water jet system in two ways: by cooling both the process water and the cutting water.
• Closed-loop Filtration Systems: These systems enable water to be recycled and reused within the loop, significantly reducing the amount of water consumed during cutting and removing harmful abrasives.
• Abrasive Removal Systems

There are also general suggestions to minimize the impacts of all cutting processes, such as:

• Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) and Adequate Ventilation.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Degusting Techniques: screen filtration, bag filtration, electrostatic filtration, and activated carbon filtration.
• Regular Maintenance and Work Practices.

Regarding the welding processes, it was concluded that TIG welding has the least environmental impact.

The principal advantage of TIG welding, when compared with other welding processes, is its low fume emissions. This is because it doesn’t use any flux or coating, relying instead on an inert gas, such as argon or helium, to shield the weld. The arc is stable and precise, minimizing molten metal loss, and often utilizes lower amperage, reducing heat input and the vaporization of metals. While generally producing low fumes, TIG welding can generate some emissions when welding certain metals or if contaminants are present.

Regarding blasting processes, UHP water jetting stands out as the most environmentally friendly option due to its lack of abrasive use. The primary concern with this process is water consumption; however, this can be minimized by implementing an on-site water recycling system.

To minimize the environmental impact of coating and painting processes, it’s important to prioritize several key strategies. This includes utilizing low-VOC coatings, water-based, high-solids, or powder coatings whenever feasible, and employing airless spraying, that is already the most used process worldwide, to reduce overspray and paint waste. Accurate paint quantity calculation and proper storage and handling are also crucial. Consider eco-friendly anti-fouling coatings, exploring options like self-polishing copolymer (SPC) coatings or hard foul-release coatings. Training personnel on proper spraying techniques and ensuring regular equipment maintenance are essential. The use of enclosures and ventilation, along with implementing VOC capture technologies such as hood systems with extraction and collection, and exploring control options for the gaseous absorption, membrane separation, condensation, incineration, or biological treatment of VOCs, can significantly reduce emissions. Finally, consider automated painting systems, implement robust waste management and recycling programs, and focus on environmentally sound surface preparation methods.

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].