Research group

Maritime Decarbonisation

A cargo ship leaving a harbour

The Maritime Decarbonisation SIG drives eco-friendly shipping through collaboration and innovation, addressing environmental impact, regulations, and economic opportunities, in response to global challenges.

About

The Maritime Decarbonisation SIG is at the forefront of tackling the critical issue of maritime decarbonisation. This SIG recognises the profound importance of its mission for several reasons:

  • it strives to address the substantial environmental impact of the maritime industry. As one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, the industry's carbon footprint poses a severe threat to our planet. 
  • it is a proactive response to this environmental challenge, aiming to reduce emissions and promote a more sustainable future, including amid initiatives to develop global sectoral targets.
  • it will also contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Furthermore, the SIG is committed to ensuring that the maritime sector meets its regulatory commitments, especially in the context of emerging technologies such as autonomous vessels. Stringent regulations are necessary to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of maritime transportation. By focusing on these commitments, the SIG plays a pivotal role in promoting responsible industry practices.

While some may perceive maritime decarbonisation initiatives as costly, the SIG sees them as economic opportunities. Transitioning to greener shipping practices can lead to cost savings and new business prospects. By driving innovation and fostering sustainable solutions, the SIG helps industry players prosper in a changing global market.

International collaboration is another pillar of the SIG's efforts. The maritime sector operates on a global scale, and it is essential for stakeholders to work together to achieve meaningful results. International collaboration facilitates the sharing of best practices, technological innovations, and policy frameworks that can accelerate the industry's transformation in response to global challenges.

Through a multi-faceted approach that encompasses environmental responsibility, regulatory compliance, economic benefits, international collaboration, and alignment with national commitments, this SIG is driving positive change and shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for all. 

To find out more about the Maritime Decarbonisation Special Interest Group and what we do, get in touch with group champion Seyedvahid Vakili, and Panos Manias.

Join the SMMI Community to sign up to this group, and any others of interest to you.

People, projects and publications

People

Professor Bharath Ganapathisubramani

Professor of Experimental Fluid Mechani

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Bindi Shah PhD, FHEA

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • A key question that Bindi is interested in asking is: What shapes citizenship and a sense of belonging to the nation amongst immigrants and established ethnic minority communities?
  • Bindi is also interested in exploring the role of social capital for developing interdisciplinary solutions to climate crisis and biodiversity loss for marginalised communities.

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Blair Thornton

Professor of Marine Autonomy

Research interests

  • seafloor 3D visual reconstruction: development of deep-sea imaging hardware and processing pipelines for calibration, localisation and 3D mapping of the seafloor with full-field uncertainty characterisation 
  • automated interpretation of data: development of AI methods for rapid scalable interpretation of seafloor imagery
  • robotics: development of low-cost, long endurance seafloor imaging floats and highly intelligent and manoeuvrable robotic imaging platform for visual survey of complex environments

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Mrs Carin Reisinger

Collaboration & Scientific Comms.Manager
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Professor Carlos Ponce De Leon Albarran MBA, PhD, FRSC

Professor of Electrochemical Engineering

Research interests

  • Electrochemical energy conversion
  • Water treatment technology
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Dr Catherine Rychert

Associate Professor
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Dr Cathy Lucas

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • The role of gelatinous zooplankton in ecosystem structure and function.
  • Causes and consequences of jellyfish blooms.
  • Jellyfish and ecosystem servives in the coastal zone.

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Cecilia D'angelo

Associate Professor
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Celia Prescott

Research interests

  • Eastern Mediterranean
  • Coastal processes and impact assessment
  • Digital archaeology
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Emeritus Professor Charles Banks

Research interests

  • Controlled anaerobic and aerobic biodegradation of municipal and industrial solid wastes
  • Concepts for an integrated farming system for non competitive food and fuel production
  • Energy production from digestion of crops and agricultural wastes
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Louise Du Toit
Lecturer
Developing strong laws and regulations for decarbonising the shipping sector, which is a growing source of global emissions, is crucial to climate mitigation efforts.
Tahsin Tezdogan
Associate Professor
Driven by a passion for sustainable shipping, I aim to enhance ship efficiency, reducing emissions and pioneering a greener maritime future.

Related research institutes, centres and groups

Related research institutes, centres and groups

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Enquiries

If you're interested in joining us or collaborating, get in touch with the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute.