About Green Ship of the Future

Green Ship of the Future (GSF) is an independent non-profit organization driven and financed by the members. 

In GSF, we are exploring the road towards emission free maritime transport. We do so by promoting the use of existing energy efficient technology, and by exploring the use of new (digital) technologies. We believe in collaboration as an enabler for a more sustainable maritime industry and facilitate innovation across maritime value chains.

GSF is

  • working towards emission free maritime transport.
  • ambitious in the exploration and use of new technologies
  • enabling innovation across maritime value chains

GSF is founded on a strong Danish heritage that builds on open collaboration and cooperation across all stakeholders in the Maritime Industry. Our projects and activities support our mission thematically and deal with a broad range of related topics from energy efficient ship design, over 3D print to digitization for de-carbonization. Over the years, we have built the GSF way of collaborating. When we develop projects with our members across the value chain, we do so with a very open mind and focus on the problems we want to solve, before discussing the business case.

We explore the road to emission free maritime transport and a more environmental and financial sustainable maritime industry, through three core areas:

1) Future fuels

2) Increased appliance of energy efficient technology (existing and new)

3) De-carbonization through digitization

GSF is an independent network for ship owners, OEMs, suppliers and classification societies, but also organizations and authorities as well as research- and educational institutions. GSF is financed and controlled by the members.

Furthermore Green Ship of the Future is

• A room for play and collaboration for the maritime industry

• A strong network of professionals with a special focus on green technology and innovation.

• A platform for the development and participation in cross-industry projects.

• Visibility, Inspiration and collaboration  within the green technology agenda

International Collaboration and visibility

In GSF, we believe that sustainable development of the maritime industry is a global issue. For that reason, we regularly join forces or coordinate with similar initiatives such as International Windship Association, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, Smart Green Shipping Alliance and Carbon War Room. Recently, we co-organized the COP23 conference Ambition 1.5: Global Shipping’s Action Plan with more than 150 delegates from 25 countries.

History (pre re-establishment in August 2015)

The GSF initiative was initially founded in 2008 by the four leading Danish maritime companies Aalborg Industries, A.P. Moller-Maersk, MAN Diesel and Odense Steel Shipyard together with the Danish Maritime Authority in recognition of the ecological responsibility nested in the maritime industry.

The GSF, initially, set ambitious goals for emission reductions through collaboration within the Blue Denmark. After 4 years, the members could look back at successful projects and a strong professional network. Once the original goals had been achieved, however, the activity level went down and forces were united to create the 16 mill. EURO Blue INNOship project addressing societal challenges in relation to the environment and energy efficiency. The Blue INNOship project embraces around 40 partners from industry and universities etc. and the goal is development of commercial products and services.

After Blue INNOship, it became clear, that there continues to be a high level of project activity and creativity within the industry and accordingly a need for encouragement and coordination of new green project initiatives. Accordingly, in April 2015 the partners within Green Ship of the Future decided to revive the partnership.

With their different backgrounds, Blue INNOship and Green Ship of the Future are now complimentary initiatives, co-operating to support a greening of the Blue Denmark.