Following the exploration “Circular Opportunities for Maritime: Building Blocks for Business, Now and in the Future,” we have spent the past 1.5 years working with frontrunners from the maritime sector on five supply chain projects.
Commissioned by the Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, these activities were carried out within the framework of a Maritime Moonshot.
Smart and sustainable use of materials for a future-proof sector
The maritime sector faces a major sustainability challenge. Until now, the focus has mainly been on reducing CO₂ emissions. However, the energy transition also brings a significant material challenge.
Ships contain numerous components and critical raw materials that may become scarce in the future. Smart and sustainable use of materials is therefore essential to make the sector resilient and future-proof.
Supply chain collaboration
Circular working does not stop with a single party. Supply and demand for reuse must be brought together much more effectively, with insight into which volumes, materials and components will become available and when. This requires collaboration across the value chain, new forms of (reverse) logistics and the willingness to decouple ship hulls and components in order to preserve value as effectively as possible. In doing so, the sector is also willing to look beyond its own boundaries, for example towards the construction sector.
Why a Moonshot?
With the Maritime Moonshot, Maritime Sisters and BlueCity joined forces with frontrunners and supply chain partners to take an ambitious step towards embedding circular principles in the maritime manufacturing industry.
The goal: to achieve breakthroughs in the design, construction, operation and dismantling of vessels. By doing so, we aim to create tangible results that inspire the entire sector.
Key outcomes
Five action lines with concrete pilots and innovations:
– Smart cable use 20% fewer cables on board through integrated collaboration and smart engineering.
– Shortsea Retrofit Roadmap A roadmap to make existing vessels more sustainable and to validate new technologies.
– Inland shipping retrofits A pilot project converting four vessels into push barges equipped with electric propulsion.
– Remanufacturing A 20-year-old bow thruster restored to as-new condition by the Maritime Remanufacturing Network — a breakthrough for circular shipbuilding.
– Extending the lifetime of seagoing tankers Insights and first steps towards keeping vessels economically and sustainably operational for longer.
– 25 supply chain partners actively involved and a wide range of companies and organisations reached through knowledge sessions, events and inspiration sessions.
– Circular maritime innovation on the agenda of major maritime platforms such as TKI Maritiem, SMM Hamburg and Schuttevaer Expo.
Want to know more? Download the publication here (in Dutch only)
What does this mean for the sector?
By using and retaining materials more intelligently, we not only work towards CO₂ reduction, but also strengthen strategic autonomy and cost efficiency.
This approach aligns with the Sector Agenda for the Maritime Manufacturing Industry and the National Circular Economy Programme.
Want to participate or learn more?
Maritime Sisters and BlueCity will continue organising new knowledge sessions and supply chain projects.
Get in touch via: [email protected]
About Moonshot I&W
A Moonshot I&W (Innovation & Science) is an ambitious, large-scale project designed to achieve breakthroughs in complex value chains. Such initiatives can have national or even international impact and lead to significant changes in how companies and their supply chain partners operate.
The focus of this moonshot lies on future-proof innovations in products, services and business models, enabling companies to transition towards sustainable and circular use of raw materials.
The core principle remains: Smart use of materials = smart business.