Dedicated energy efficiency group established in Piraeus
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DNV has established a dedicated environment and energy efficiency team to operate out of the Piraeus office in response to the increasing level of interest shown by shipowners in the region. DNV has successfully executed more than 30 energy efficiency projects worldwide and the newly established team has worked on four of these for Greek shipowners. In preparation for growing demand, the team has received additional comprehensive training from specialists within DNV covering the organisation’s full environmental portfolio. “Shipowners and operators are facing continuously increasing pressure from regulators, charterers and society at large to clearly demonstrate their environmental performance and it is not a simple task to achieve this, especially under challenging market conditions,” says Nikolas Boussounis, regional manager DNV. “Our new advisory services unit has been established so that DNV is able to serve and assist the local Greek maritime community better, quicker and cheaper.” Although the IMO’s call for a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan is currently voluntary, DNV believes it could become mandatory as early as 2013 and has developed new advisory services accordingly. Mr Boussounis encourages shipping companies to take a proactive approach while there is still time to get the most out of the plan’s development. “Greater efficiency gains are possible if time is taken to conduct energy audits and to think through a targeted response that is supported by well-established management and training protocols,” he said. The team has begun providing introductory seminars to several shipping companies of the 700 shipowners in the region.
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