Fincantieri, Eni and Rina to develop joint initiatives for maritime decarbonization

Italian shipbuilding major Fincantieri, classification society RINA and energy major Eni have signed an agreement to develop joint initiatives in the field of maritime transport decarbonization.

As disclosed, the three companies will conduct a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the most sustainable alternatives to support the maritime decarbonization pathway.

Specifically, this will be based on the development of complementary solutions to fuels already available for other hard-to-abate sectors.

The partnership’s areas of interest also include an analysis of the reference energy infrastructure and the development of new logistic structures, including the investments that the sector requires.

“The collaboration with Fincantieri and RINA, two major Italian players, is a further step in our journey towards the transition and decarbonisation of maritime transport. To meet the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda, it is important not only to manage what is immediate but also to act with a medium to long-term perspective, developing partnerships to create more sustainable solutions and products,” Giuseppe Ricci, Chief Operating Officer for Energy Evolution at Eni, commented.

“The ability to network among the partners, with their wealth of skills and technological capabilities, can make a significant contribution to finding more effective solutions for decarbonising maritime transport and meeting the needs of shipowners and logistics operators, always leveraging a holistic approach.”

“We are very pleased to join forces with Eni and RINA in an alliance to materialize existing solutions and to pave the way for the future with a proactive ecosystem approach. Indeed, new technologies must be industrialized on board ships, just as new fuels must be produced and distributed at the dock. Only with a concept of “operationalizing innovation” can we lead our industry and project our shipbuilding leadership into the future,” Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, said.

“We strongly believe in the value of collaboration and the opportunities it brings, particularly when it involves players of international calibre such as Eni and Fincantieri. Together, we have the opportunity to share knowledge and experience and to contribute to more sustainable solutions that support the shipping supply chain. RINA brings to the partnership its engineering and technological skills, developed across various sectors, to support shipping in its journey towards reducing its carbon footprint, without excluding any energy options,” Carlo Luzzatto, CEO and General Manager of RINA, stated.

The partnership formalizes the commitment to develop joint projects, in line with the partners’ strategies, to decarbonize the maritime sector in the medium to long term with the goal of Net Zero by 2050.

Additionally, the establishment of a permanent global observatory regarding future technological, regulatory, and market developments will be evaluated.

Last year, Fincantieri and Rina worked on a feasibility study for nuclear applications to the shipping industry together with newcleo, a London-based nuclear technology company developing Generation IV reactors using nuclear waste as fuel.

Using clean nuclear energy to power marine vessels has the potential to rapidly decarbonize a sector grappling with huge fossil fuel consumption and its consequent carbon emissions.