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Press Release | The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Expands Partnership Platform with the Introduction of Academic Partners

Published — May 13, 2024

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Expands Partnership Platform with the Introduction of four Academic Partners

Copenhagen, Denmark — In a move to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between industry and academia, The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping introduces a new partnership category and presents four new Academic Partners: University of Michigan, Maritime Research Alliance, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and World Maritime University.

The introduction of Academic Partners marks a strategic expansion of the Center's partnership platform and is a strengthening of the collaboration between scientists in the research projects led by the Center and leading academic institutions within maritime.

The partnerships will support increased transparency and knowledge sharing between the maritime industry and academia, as well as development of the competencies required of future decision-makers and transition enablers.

Commenting on the new Academic Partners, Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, said:

''We are excited to welcome our first academic partners to the Center. As a science-based research and development organization, we are committed to both learning from academia and contributing to the academic community, inspiring scientists globally, developing competencies, and closing knowledge gaps. With University of Michigan, Maritime Research Alliance, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and World Maritime University onboard, we can now move in new directions faster to accelerate the maritime industry’s decarbonization journey.''

From University of Michigan, Professor David R. Dowling, Chair of the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, commented on the partnership’s pragmatic approach:

“The collaboration with the Center aligns well with our department’s mission, opening up new avenues for research and enhancing our educational programs in line with industry needs and ecological stewardship.”

Thomas Roslyng Olesen, Head of Maritime Research Alliance, holds high expectations for the new partnership:

“Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping is at the absolute forefront when it comes to the development of solutions to decarbonize shipping. Therefore, we are very excited about the opportunity to engage in this partnership. As a network organization for maritime researchers in Denmark, the Maritime Research Alliance span over a wide range of academic fields from natural science to humanities and social science. By combining our academic research with the extensive industry knowledge in Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, we believe that this partnership will be a strong foundation for the development of new solutions to decarbonize shipping.”

Professor Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, Director of NTNU Ocean and Coast, commented:

“Since its founding in 1910, NTNU has focused on ship technology, working closely with Norway’s maritime cluster. Recently, the university has increased its activities in research and education on energy efficiency and emission reduction in maritime transport as well as on the energy transition in general. This effort involves many parts of NTNU, including the Department of Marine Technology, NTNU Energy, NTNU Ocean and Coast, and the Industrial Ecology Programme in lead. Working with outside maritime partners is crucial for this work. NTNU is excited to join the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping as an academic partner. The university looks forward to helping achieve zero-carbon maritime transport through this global effort. We foresee that the development of the Norwegian Ocean Technology Center can play an important role in this.”

Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., President of the World Maritime University highlighted the value of partnering for the Sustainable Development Goals:

“We are fortunate to have such a valuable partner at the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping close to the University to work together towards a zero carbon maritime industry and jointly support the maritime decarbonization agenda of the International Maritime Organization. This important partnership will benefit the maritime sector globally, particularly in developing countries. The partnership also supports our mutual commitments to achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goals 7 and 13 on Clean Energy and Climate Action.”

About the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a top public university in the United States with recognition as both a leading educational and research institution. It has top-ranked schools and colleges including the College of Engineering, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, the School for Environment and Sustainability, and Ford School of Public Policy. UM has also established multi-disciplinary research and development institutes and initiatives including the Graham Sustainability Institute, the Institute for Energy Solutions and MI Hydrogen.

About Maritime Research Alliance

Maritime Research Alliance was established in 2020 as a non-profit network organization that works to further the collaboration between maritime researchers at the Danish universities, maritime schools, and other maritime stakeholders.

Specifically, Maritime Research Alliance works to coordinate maritime research and educational collaboration between our member institutions, facilitate collaboration between maritime researchers and other stakeholders, and make Danish maritime research and education visible in Denmark and abroad. Maritime Research Alliance currently connects maritime centers and maritime researchers from 12 Danish research institutions.

Maritime Research Alliance is co-funded by the Danish Maritime Fund and NORDEN/Orients Fund.

About Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

NTNU is an international oriented university with headquarters in Trondheim and campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund. NTNU has a main profile in science and technology, a variety of programmes of professional study, and great academic breadth that also includes the humanities, social sciences, economics, medicine, health sciences, educational science, architecture, entrepreneurship, art disciplines and artistic activities.

About World Maritime University

As a global centre of excellence established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, WMU plays a significant role in maritime and oceans education, research, capacity-building and economic development while promoting the role of women in the maritime and ocean sectors. The United Nations General Assembly, through its Resolutions on Oceans and Law of the Sea, continues to recognize the importance of WMU as a centre of excellence for maritime education and research, confirms its effective capacity-building role in the field of maritime transportation, policy, administration, management, safety, security and environmental protection, as well as its role in the international exchange and transfer of knowledge. The impact of WMU has been immense since its inauguration in 1983. With an international presence and a global reach, WMU continues to build maritime and oceans capacity and expertise taking into account the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

About the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) is an independent, not-for-profit research and development center established in 2020 with funding from the A.P. Moller Foundation. Our purpose is to guide and accelerate decarbonization of the global maritime industry.

Working with our partners, governments, authorities, public sector bodies, scientists, and organizations across the global maritime industry we aim to inform, de-risk decision-making, and spark real climate action.

We are technology agnostic and have no vested interest in specific decarbonization solutions. We explore free of commercial considerations and independent of partner strategies. As a result, we deliver independent analyses of how the transition is progressing and clear, data-driven recommendations for accelerating maritime decarbonization. On top we are maturing solutions to the most pressing problems across the maritime value chain, from fuels to onboard solutions, regulations, and financing.

For more information and overview of partners, please visit www.zerocarbonshipping.com

Media Contacts

Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
Jesper Ravnborg - jesper.ravnborg@zerocarbonshipping.com

University of Michigan
Thomas McKenney - tmckenne@umich.edu
Nicole Panyard - npanyard@umich.edu

Maritime Research Alliance
Thomas Roslyng Olesen - tro@mra.dk
Kathrine Gjesing - kgh.si@cbs.dk

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Annika Bremvåg - annika.bremvag@ntnu.no

World Maritime University (WMU)
Maia Brindley Nilsson - mbn@wmu.se

Press Release | The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Expands Partnership Platform with the Introduction of Academic Partners

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Expands Partnership Platform with the Introduction of four Academic Partners

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