The CirclesOfLife (CoL) General Assembly in Hamburg (December 2024) marked a significant milestone in advancing sustainability and circularity in the shipbuilding sector. Through collaborative workshops and insightful updates across work packages (WP), the Assembly underscored the project’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and actionable solutions for environmental challenges.
Work Package 1: Advancing the SEPI Model
The session began with a status update on the Shipyard Environmental Performance Indicator (SEPI) model, presented by Conrad Plange. The model now includes detailed requirements and corresponding outputs, providing a robust framework for measuring the environmental performance of shipyards.
This update paves the way for refining KPIs that capture sustainability metrics across various processes, ensuring alignment with industry needs and regulatory standards.
Work Package 2: Building a Robust Software Infrastructure
Stephan Wurst provided an in-depth overview of the ongoing development of the SEPI software tool. This tool is critical for enabling data-driven decision-making and transparency in shipyard operations.
This comprehensive approach ensures that the software will meet the operational and strategic needs of stakeholders while maintaining flexibility and scalability.
Work Package 3: Insights into Business Process Modelling
Michael Hubler moderated a workshop focused on business process modelling, which brought surprising insights into the complexity of everyday shipyard activities.
The process of “surface preparation”, which initially seemed straightforward, revealed intricate interconnections involving materials, energy consumption, and emissions.
Participants worked in four groups, each generating distinct models that reflected varied interpretations and priorities. This exercise highlighted the need for standardized frameworks to better capture environmental impacts and ensure consistency across operations.
Work Package 4: Circular and Digital Passports
The development of the Ship Circular Materials Passport (SCMP) and Ship Lifecycle Passport SLP) was presented by Mark Lansiaux and Martin Verboom. These tools are integral to advancing transparency and circular practices within the shipbuilding value chain. The following workshop emphasized the transformative potential of CMP and DSP in enhancing lifecycle tracking, reducing environmental impact, and supporting circularity across the maritime sector.
Work Package 5: Personas and Key messages for our stakeholder community
The workshop aimed to identify the needs and expectations of 4 key stakeholder personas. A persona is a semi-fictional representation of a target audience. It helps personalize messages and actions.
The workshop enabled a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by shipbuilders, financial institutes, suppliers, and subcontractors. CirclesOfLife positions itself as an essential ally in supporting these actors through the environmental transition while ensuring competitiveness and innovation. See the dedicated article in our newsletter.
Key Takeaways and Future Directions
The General Assembly highlighted the significant progress made across the CirclesOfLife project. Key insights include:
- The SEPI model and software tool are essential for driving data-driven environmental strategies and fostering greater transparency in shipyard processes.
- Business process modelling has revealed opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce emissions, and improve resource efficiency.
- The Ship Circular Materials Passport and Ship Lifecyle Passport are poised to revolutionize lifecycle management, supporting stakeholders in adopting circular and sustainable practices.
As the CirclesOfLife project moves forward, collaboration between industry leaders, researchers, and partners remains critical to its success. By focusing on innovation, transparency, and stakeholder engagement, CirclesOfLife is charting a course toward a sustainable and competitive future for the shipbuilding industry.
Together, we are building the foundations of a circular maritime economy – where sustainability and innovation drive the future of shipbuilding 🌍🚢
