The Ocean Exchange, an advocate group for shipping and logistics innovation, has announced the two winners of its Ocean Exchange 2013 awards. Each award includes a $100,000 prize from worldwide sponsors Gulfstream Aerospace and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL). The winners are ECOsubsea and WITT. The prize is given to innovations that advance “a commercially viable shipping and logistics solution for increased sustainability through zero-emissions, transport on land and at sea”.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has given its Orcelle Award of 2013 along with $100,000 prize to ECOsubsea in recognition of its ecological underwater hull-cleaning technology. The solution allows ship owners to clean their vessels in an environmentally responsible way while in port and conducting cargo operations. The ECOsubsea system meets key challenges that include: high collection rate of biofouling debris; preservation of vessel coating during cleaning; and safer operation through greatly reducing the need for divers.
WWL’s CEO Christopher Connor congratulated ECOsubsea and said “the appeal of this solution is how it combines an environmental benefit with a commercial incentive.”
This year’s $100,000 Gulfstream Navigator Award 2013 was given to WITT Energy Harvesting Transmission Collecting Power from All Sea Motion by WITT. The device takes natural energy, which is produced by the movement of water, wind, humans, animals or vehicles, and converts it into usable energy.
“We congratulate WITT Limited, winner of this year’s Gulfstream Navigator award,” said Joe Lombardo, executive vice president, Aerospace Group, General Dynamics, parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace. “WITT’s energy-harvesting solution will significantly contribute to increased energy production from renewable resources. Additionally, it has a wide range of applications, from small personal appliances to large-scale marine renewable energy. We’re excited about this product’s environmental potential.”
