Facilitating the future

EME

Beyond this, Grathen also reveals that the company is readily preparing itself for the incorporation of next generation technologies in order to ensure that Samskip remains an innovative logistics player.

“For 2019, our key priorities are to complete the integration of our recent acquisitions and continue to containerise our transports, moving more cargo from transport by truck to more environmentally responsible rail and sea freight solutions,” he reiterates.

“However, we’re also looking beyond the short term.”

To this end, the company is currently working on a conceptual study for the planned use of emission-free, autonomous ships, analysing the possibilities of hydrogen fuels, remote- driving technologies and autonomous cargo handling capabilities.

“This project, named Seashuttle, has been granted substantial financial support by the Norwegian government with the end goal of providing emission- free maritime transport,” Grathen adds.

Currently developing two hybrid hydrogen propelled ships that will be used to connect the Baltic states and Sweden, with the Norwegian coast. Seashuttle is just one of six similar initiatives that are included in PILOT-E – a €100 million-plus scheme involving the Research Council, Innovation Norway and Enova that are targeting emission sea freight in specific areas along the Norwegian coast by 2030.

Excited about these game-changing prospects, Grathen concludes: “Sustainable, autonomous and emission-free operations will undoubtedly become a major trend of our industry for decades to come. It’s definitely on its way.”