The maritime industry is in the middle of a paradigm shift. It’s therefore with great pleasure that we like to announce that the key Finnish maritime stakeholders representing the Finnish Maritime Cluster signs a cooperation agreement with Zero Vision Tool (ZVT) to widen the use of the ZVT collaboration method for a safer and more environmentally, climate and energy efficient, while still profitable, transport at sea. A unique industry driven cross-border triple helix way to move forward together.
The Finnish Shipowners’ Association, Finnish Port Association, Finnish Port Operators Association and Finnish Marine Industries will engage in, and use, the cooperation structure as well as take a seat in the ZVT Steering Group together with representatives from the Swedish Shipowners’ Association, Ports of Sweden, SSPA and ZVT to strengthen the cross-border cooperation even further.
Today there are over 20 ongoing Joint Industry or University Projects (JIP, JUP), comprising over 130 collaboration partners from 11 countries that are using the ZVT method. All coordinated via Sweden.
By signing the collaboration agreement the Finnish Associations are opening up the possibility to coordinate this type of Joint Industry Projects via Finland as well.
The ZVT quarterly reporting from the projects are compiled by National Coordinators, then raised to the ZVTREF comprising authorities and agencies. The information received from the Zero Vision Tool quarterly reports are used to identify the main obstacles hindering the development of the sustainable shipping in the public-private subgroup of the Green Technology and Alternative Fuels in public-private cooperation subgroup of the HELCOM Maritime and the Council of Baltic Sea States EGMP via the ZVT Nucleus.
Important to remember is that the ZVT is industry driven, which in itself is unusual when it comes to triple helix initiatives where the industry, authority, society and university stakeholders collaborate.
Carl Carlsson, CEO Zero Vision Tool, states that “stakeholders from the maritime industry in Europe are pioneers in many areas. When faced with the climate and energy challenge they have been acting as test beds for new technology and infrastructure, participated with input when new regulations are discussed and have invested heavily. However, this wouldn’t been possible if we didn’t have the support and co-funding from the EU Motorways of the Sea and the Swedish Maritime Administration to manage this transition that we are in. Since the ZVT method is industry driven we are extra glad that the Finnish Associations like to engage and 2 participate, together we continue towards the vision of zero emissions, discharge, accidents and lowering the energy consumption”.
Annaleena Mäkilä, Managing Director, Finnish Port Association, comments “It’s important to continue this transition that we are in, both for the climate but also to be able to continue the needed transportation support to the land business in our area. It’s vital for the society at large to keep, and raise, the job opportunities, to keep and raise the building and technology knowledge base and to continue develop the land-sea and cross-border interaction. This is partly why we see this agreement as a good investment in the future”.
The ZVT and the new cooperation is presented at the European Maritime Day 2016 in Turku at the seminar Partnerships for Green Shipping arranged by CBSS and HELCOM (13:30, 18 of May).
Finnish Maritime Cluster
The key Finnish maritime associations, respectively Finnish Shipowners’ Association, Finnish Port Association, Finnish Port Operators Association and Finnish Marine Industries, have started the Finnish Maritime Cluster project to create a strong network among the maritime stakeholders in Finland, to increase international co-operation and to enhance co-operation between industry and research as well as to inform of existing funding instruments. The two years’ project is co-funded by the ministry of economy and employment.
Zero Vision Tool
Increased transport by sea can contribute to increased economic growth and welfare, while reducing negative environmental impacts, number of accidents and energy consumption. With this belief in mind and with the aim of achieving the European Commission’s vision of a maritime industry without negative impact on air and water, the Zero Vision Tool (ZVT) was developed in 2011.
ZVT is a collaboration method and project platform for a safer, more environmentally, climate and energy efficient transport by sea. Within the platform representatives of industry, academy, agencies and administrations meet to share experiences and find common, workable and sustainable solutions. As of today approximately 130 different organisations from different countries use the ZVT method. Brand owners are Swedish Shipowners’ Association and SSPA.
