Japanese, Malaysian Companies to Develop Renewable Energy-Powered Ferry

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Japanese and Malaysian companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to market and develop renewable energy solutions for shipping.

Eco Marine Power (EMP) (Fukuoka, Japan) and AIMS Global Engineering (Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia) will focus on a project to complete the detailed design of the Medaka eco-commuter ferry, with the target of marketing this solar-electric urban passenger ferry throughout the Asia-Pacific region later in 2013. The ferry will incorporate a range of technologies, including hybrid marine propulsion, a data management system, lithium-ion storage modules and a solar array incorporating flexible solar panels.

EMP and AIMS also will cooperate on a project to incorporate a renewable energy solution onto an existing offshore support vessel. The companies will consider working together during the sea trials of EMP's MRE system and Energy Sail technologies.

The EMP Aquarius MRE system will allow the ship to utilize wind power and solar energy in order to reduce fuel consumption and lower noxious gas emissions. Ship owners will be able to reduce the carbon footprint of their fleets and employ the system on a variety of ships and vessels. The combination of technologies is expected to deliver annual fuel savings of about 40%.

AIMS specializes in vessel chartering, supply and services. EMP is an internationally focused technology company that designs innovative, eco-friendly solar, wind, electric and hybrid marine power and propulsion solutions.

"AIMS is very pleased to be supporting EMP in their move toward utilizing marine renewable energy," said Mohn Tarmizi, CEO of AIMS. "The knowledge that we will amass, and the skills to be acquired, will provide us with a unique insight into what is feasible and achievable."

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.