The arrival of the SV Juren Ae into Majuro Lagoon under full sail at the end of last month was a majestic sight.
It was also an important moment for sustainable shipping in our region.
In 2020, Marshall Islands committed to reducing carbon emissions by its domestic shipping fleets by 40% by 2030, and 100% by 2050. Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport (MCST) legal researcher, Tina Schultz says while these targets are highly ambitious, they are achievable with the right financing and technologies.
“Our domestic shipping scenario in the Pacific is not a healthy one,” she recently said during a MCST webinar. “Our maritime countries have the world’s highest transport connectivity prices, the longest routes and the narrowest economies.
“Our domestic shipping services are inadequate and substandard except on the most profitable routes. The unfortunate reality for our unique maritime geographies is while shipping is an essential need, it simply doesn’t have a workable business case. We are trapped in a vicious cycle where no investment or insurance capacity means we are reliant on old, imported or end-of-life or donated aid vessels. We also have highly limited maintenance capacity and an undervalued labour force.”Schultz says the biggest test now is to transition away from chronic fuel dependency and still provide connectivity to Pacific communities.
The SV Juren Ae is one example of the innovation required. A low carbon cargo and passenger vessel, it was built on South Korea’s Geoje Island, and funded by a range of development partners led by Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Welcoming the vessel, Marshall Islands’ Minister for Transport, Hilton Kendall enthused: “This ship is more than simply a ship…It represents the Marshall Islands’ sustainable marine transportation, a ray of hope, and a vital component of maritime education and training. An important turning point in our attempts to move towards a sustainable, energy-efficient future has been reached with the arrival of the SV Juren Ae.”
SV Juren Ae’s innovative design includes a partially automated sail system, which is inspired by traditional Indonesian sails and is complemented by solar panels and a hybrid drive system. Korean Register (KR) says this configuration is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% compared to similar-sized ships.
It adds that this hybrid power system means the propeller and engine handle low-speed manoeuvring, while the propeller can also generate electricity as a turbine.
This enables the vessel to achieve a service speed of approximately 12 knots under sail and 7 knots with the diesel engine.
The vessel will be operated by the Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation.
Michael Suhr, Regional Director North Europe at KR, said: “The Juren Ae represents a pivotal moment in maritime innovation. This pioneering ship serves as a beacon for a low-carbon future in maritime transport, showcasing the viability and efficiency of sustainable technologies in the maritime industry.
“This project not only offers a compelling business case for sail-driven cargo vessels, particularly in regions with high fuel prices like the Pacific Islands, but also aims to inspire other Pacific Island states to adopt low-carbon technologies and concepts for maritime transport.”
Additional reporting from the Marshall Islands Journal.
