Green ships, zero emission vessels and the pathway to decarbonisation are topics that are now of primary importance to the shipping sector. Not only are there initiatives from within the sector being implemented to improve the energy efficiency of ships and reduce airborne emissions, but also organisations including the European Commission have outlined policy measures aimed to reduce carbon emissions related to shipping. Additionally many of the emission reduction targets are not clearly defined nor is there a stable policy framework upon which the industry can map out a long-term path to meet these targets.

To complicate matters further, organisational barriers often prevent the free exchange of ideas and opinions between classification societies, industry groups and shipping related organisations. Furthermore, numerous governments appear to be advocating their own independent strategies and policies.

Therefore to assist companies in the shipping and maritime sector to navigate through this maze of challenges, the Aquarius Innovation Fourm been established with the primary aim of freely exchanging ideas that will assist members to mitigate risks and develop long-term strategies to deal with the evolving technological, organizational and policy environment. This group was initailly established in February 2021 and the Eco marine Power Rsearch Advisory Group but was expanded and remaned in January 2022.

Background & Objectives

More than 5 years ago Eco Marine Power began moving all its various research projects within the common framework of a virtual research organisation. This organisation has now evolved to include cooperating with a wide range of companies to undertake research projects covering topics focused on the use of renewable energy on ships, the installation of energy saving devices, the use of automation & data logging systems and the implementation of improved management processes.

The primary aims of the Aquarius Innovation Forum are:

• To exchange ideas and information related to reducing vessel emissions and fuel consumption and improving the energy efficiency of ships.
• To highlight topics and subject areas related to ship energy efficiency that should be investigated further.
• To study technology-based and/or operational related solutions that could be utilized to facilitate the transition of the maritime sector towards decarbonisation.
• To provide guidance to companies within the EMP Research Institute regarding future R&D and solution development projects.
• To look outside shipping for possible solutions that could be adapted for use on-board ships and to consider how solutions developed for shipping, could be applied to other sectors and industries.

See also: Eco Marine Power Research Institute

Test and Evaluation Center for Shipping, Marine and Offshore Technologies

The Onomichi Marine Tech Test Center or Onomichi MTTC is located at the Teramoto Iron Works Chojahara Workshop in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Onomichi is a major center of ship building and ship repair industries.

The centre includes a large outdoor evaluation area which is used to develop, test, evaluate and demonstrate new technologies or provide support for products in service. Equipment installed at the center includes a jack-up rig for offshore wind power facilities, marine solar power panels, marine-grade frames for ship photovoltaic (PV) systems and an EnergySail test unit.

A key focus at the Onomichi MTTC is renewable energy related technologies for shipping, marine and offshore applications. The aim is to help develop solutions that will assist with the transition of shipping to a zero emissions future.

The Onomichi MTTC is also being used as a test and R&D centre for Eco Mainre Power's patented EnergySail and Aquarius MRE technologies.

Teramoto Iron Works (established in 1934) has a long history of product innovation and was involved in the production of rigid sails for ships in Japan around four decades ago.

These rigid sails were known as "JAMDA"  (Japan Marine Machinery Development Association) sails and the fuel savings on ships that used them ranged between approximately 10% - 30%. Trials using these sails also showed that they were capable of moving the ship at low speed without the use of the main engines.

Variations of these rigid sails could be folded when not in use and they proved the viability of using rigid sails as a means of auxillary propulsio to reduce fuel consumption on powered vessels.

The JAMDA rigid sail experience makes the Onomichi MTTC the ideal location for the ongoing development of the EnergySail and other renewable energy solutions for shipping including marine solar power. In addition other solutions for shipping, marine and offshore applications are also developed and tested at the center.

Current projects ongoing at the Onomichi MTTC

• TM-600 Jack Up System for offshore rigs & offshore platforms.
• Aquarius Marine Solar Power system testing.
• Marine solar photovoltaic (PV) panels evaluation.
• Design and testing of PV panel mounting frames for ship and offshore applications.
• EnergySail testing and evaluation.
• Ship, marine & offshore energy storage solutions design & evaluation.

Future planned projects

• Aquarius MRE testing and evaluation.
• Marine wind power device testing including wind power turbines.
  
• Aquarius USV testing.
  

In addition to Teramoto Iron Works and Eco Marine Power other companies involved in activities at the Onomichi MTTC include KEI System, Furukawa Battery and Fuji Trading

Equipment from other suppliers in Japan and internationally will also be evaluated at the center as required.

The Onomichi MTTC also conducts testing and evaluation projects in co-operation with the Aquarius Innovation Lab in Osaka.

For further information about our development activities with our strategic partners please see our R&D section.

Note: Aquarius MRE and EnergySail are registered trademarks of Eco Marine Power Co. Ltd.

Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Powered by Renewable Energy (Under Development)

The Aquarius USV™ is being developed as a cost-effective Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) or Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) that will incorporate a number of technologies from Eco Marine Power & its strategic partners. These technologies include the patented Aquarius MRE and  EnergySail plus high performance marine batteries & lightweight flexible marine solar panels.

The Aquarius USV will be powered by a solar-electric hybrid marine power (HMP) solution which will also feature a solar panel array designed by EMP. On-board batteries will be re-charged via the solar-panel array or via ship or shore power using rapid battery re-charging technology.

The vessel will be fitted with compact low power marine computer systems which will utilise the KEI 3240 platform - this flexible marine computer system architecture has proven itself to be reliable on hundreds of vessels ranging from tugboats to ocean going bulk ore carriers and tankers.

The vessel will also be fitted with a sensor pack including several unique sensors developed by EMP. These sensors will be able to collect data from above and below the waterline and this data can either be stored on-board the vessel and/or transmitted back to a ship or shore office. Data transmission will be possible via Wi-Fi, mobile phone or satellite connections.

The Aquarius USV's shallow draft and low height will allow it to operate on urban waterways, rivers, bays and lakes in addition to being suitable for coastal waters and missions at sea. If needed, the masts can also be lowered (optional) to give the vessel a stealth capability.

Typical missions for the Aquarius USV could include monitoring harbour pollution, oceanographic surveys, maritime park surveillance, port security, coastal border patrols, marine data collection and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

A variation of the Aquarius USV will include a stand-alone version of EMP's unique EnergySail technology in order to extend the vessel's range and allow for additional sensors to be fitted.

EMP is also studying the possibility of developing a robotic version of the Aquarius USV.

The Aquarius USV design study project started in 2011 and has now been re-aligned with EMP's other development projects. Lab testing of technologies to be used for the Aquarius USV has already commenced.

* Concept design: Greg Atkinson. EMP. All rights reserved. © 2012 - 2017. Eco Marine Power. Ltd.

Further Reading:  Technologies Overview Investor Information

Note: Aquarius MRE, Aquarius USV, EnergySail and Aquarius MAS are trademarks of Eco Marine Power.

Research & Design Facility Focused on Sustainable Shipping Technologies

The Aquarius Innovation Lab conducts research & design plus product development activities related to marine renewable energy systems and fuel saving technologies. Ongoing projects include the development of the Aquarius MRE System and EnergySail, both of which are being tested and evaluated at the lab.

The Aquarius Innovation Lab is unique in that it develops and tests a wide range of equipment in a multi-vendor environment thereby allowing Eco Marine Power to provide solutions suited to ships ranging from small passenger ferries and tugboats to naval vessels, bulk ore carriers and cruise ships.

Equipment currently in the lab includes an EnergySail prototype, EnergySail ACS (Automated Control System), MPPT Controller, Aquarius MAS, various solar panels, sensors, marine batteries and a marine electric motor.

The lab is also an international centre and works with with designers, equipment manufactures & technical firms from Japan, Italy, Greece, UK, Canada, USA, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.

The Aquarius Innovation Lab is also utilised to prepare new features for the Aquarius Management & Automation System (Aquarius MAS) and to support the development of new software features for KEI System's marine computer systems such as the KEI 3240 Data Logger.

Additionally, the lab acts as a technical support, integration testing and verification centre as required.

The facility is located in Osaka, Japan, and includes an indoor test centre plus an outdoor area for evaluating the performance of hardware such as solar panels, rigid sails & wind power devices.

Innovation and Co-Operation

The Aquarius Innovation Lab was established by KEI System Ltd and Eco Marine Power Ltd as part of their ongoing co-operation to develop fuel saving and emission reduction solutions. These solutions incorporate renewable energy, energy storage and computer system technologies.

Equipment monitoring and performance management systems are also tested at the lab as are stand-alone units such as marine-grade flexible solar panels and MPPT controllers.

A number of technology providers have supplied equipment to be evaluated at the lab and additional equipment is installed as required.

It is through this type of co-operation that further innovative solutions will be developed to help make shipping even more efficient and environmentally friendly in the years ahead.

Current Projects

The following testing and/or evaluation projects are currently ongoing at the lab.

• Aquarius MAS - development and testing of additional software features.

• Aquarius MRE System - prototype system testing & evaluation. (also preparation and support for sea trials)

• EnergySail - prototype testing and evaluation. (including computer control system)

• Marine Solar Power - evaluation of flexible solar panels, interface units and MPPT hardware.

• Aquarius USV - evaluation of control system & power management for Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV).

In addition the lab provides technical support for the Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Innovation Project as required.

Further Reading: Research & Development   Technologies

Note: Aquarius MRE System, Aquarius MAS, Aquarius USV and EnergySail are trademarks of Eco Marine Power.

Aquarius Eco Ship - A Sustainable Ship Design Concept

Media Information, Images & Downloads

Higher resolution images for articles and media reports are available upon request.

Aquarius Eco Ship with Aquarius MRE

Size: 1024 x 768. 160kB.

The Aquarius Eco Ship is a sustainable ship design concept by Eco Marine Power (EMP) which incorporates patented Aquarius MRE technology along with other fuel & emission reduction technologies including the Aquarius MAS computer system. This combination of technologies could lead to an annual fuel reduction of 40% or more plus significantly lower noxious gas & carbon and particulate matter emissions.

Aquarius MRE incorporates patented EnergySail technology developed by Eco Marine Power and energy storage modules, marine-grade solar panels and control & management systems. Aquarius MRE is fully automated, requires little attention from the ship's crew and provides a means to help shipping lines and/or ship owners comply with emission reduction regulations.

This image shows an Aquarius Eco Ship concept applied to a bulk carrier or bulker, however the Aquarius Eco Ship concept could be applied to other types of vessels such as oil tankers, cargo ships, cruise ships offshore support ships & passenger ferries.

EnergySail Array on Aquarius Eco Ship

Size: 247 x 240. 9.99kB.

The EnergySail is a innovative rigid sail device designed by Eco Marine Power which can be used either as a stand-alone unit or in an array as shown. The EnergySail can be positioned automatically by a computer system or manually controlled via the ship's crew. This computer system is know as the EnergySail ACS and is being developed jointly by EMP and KEI System in Osaka, Japan.

The flexibility of the EnergySail design means that it can be installed on a wide variety of ships including bulk carriers, cargo ships, passenger ferries, cruise ships and even unmanned surface vessels.

The EnergySail can also be used when a ship is in port or harbour which is a major advantage over traditional & rigid sail designs.

A typical Aquarius MRE solution would include several EnergySail devices along with energy storage modules & solar panels either mounted on the sails or elsewhere on the ship.

Aquarius Eco Ship - Renewable Energy for Shipping (Video Clip)

Please Note: Aquarius MRE, Aquarius MAS, EnergySail ACS & EnergySail are trademarks of Eco Marine Power.

Aquarius Eco Ship concept by Greg Atkinson and Eco Marine Power. Copyright 2012 - 2018. All rights reserved.