Welcome to the Ocean Insights series – bite sized interviews with the thought leaders, innovators and business people seeking to realise the huge potential of the ocean space.
WinGD (Winterthur Gas & Diesel) is a leading developer of low-speed gas and diesel engines for marine propulsion. Headquartered in Switzerland, since its inception as the Sulzer Diesel Engine business in 1893, it carries on the legacy of excellence in design.
Together with the Management Team, Klaus Heim, CEO, WinGD, works to define and implement the strategic goals of the company with the vision to become the leading technology provider and market leader for merchant ship power with smart, cost effective and reliable solutions that provide value to customers while delivering the lowest possible environmental impact.
This week we have therefor spoken to Klaus Heim, to let you discover their unique vision of the road ahead.
Dive in and see what you discover.
What do you see as the greatest opportunity for the ocean industries over the next decade?
This is an incredibly exciting time to be a part of ocean industries as we bear witness to one of the biggest transformations the shipping industry has ever faced. This next decade will see a continuation of the transformation of the shipping industry as we strive to meet the latest IMO targets. The greatest opportunity within this time comes in the form of collaborations. In order to succeed with meeting the 2050 GHG targets, our expertise, resources and efforts, as an industry, need to come together to define and activate the real action required to reduce our impact on the environment. The potential when we come together will be incredible, and the result will change our industry.
What do you regard as the greatest challenge?
The greatest challenge is identifying the future fuel that will enable our industry to reach a carbon neutral future. Our job as engine designers is not to weigh in on which fuel will carry us to a low-carbon future, but to ensure that the combustion engine is ready and capable of burning that fuel. Ship engines historically have been able to power ships with the lowest quality fuel available so handling high quality fuels won’t be a problem. It will, of course present challenges as we work to understand the different dynamics of varying fuels on the engine but this is where we thrive; we have the expertise and capability. The greatest challenge for the industry will be to find a viable fuel source which provides the energy density and supply infrastructure needed to keep a pace with the global demand. That is a considerable task and one that requires our greatest minds to work together.
What do you see as the unique strength of your business and how will it help you succeed?
Our strength comes from our long history of innovation. We have been innovators in marine propulsion since the late 1800s and this deep-rooted knowledge allows us to confidently push boundaries. We have recently made significant investment into our R&D infrastructure which now positions us with a greater capacity for testing and validating future fuels. We also benefit from being part of the largest shipbuilding group in the world, giving us access to work together with all stakeholders in designing the propulsion solutions of the future.
What key skills are you looking for in the next generation of industry professionals and how are you working to attract new talent?
What the next generation of talent brings to the table is the unwavering commitment to find sustainable solutions. The younger generations of experts have an inherent instinct to protect the environment, so much more so than the generations who came before them. With that we need critical thinkers and those who can look at a problem from a new angle. The drive to come together, collaborating across our industry, and beyond, towards a common goal is where our new talent will succeed. There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the shipping industry and the capacity to make a real difference here is elevated. And this is what is attracting new talent.
What are you most looking forward to at Nor-Shipping 2021?
Nor-Shipping has always represented a gathering of shipping professionals centred around the highest objectives of emission reduction and collaboration. We look forward to joining the conversation and sharing our expertise about the future of the two-stroke engine. It offers the chance to inspire and to be inspired, forging stronger collaborations towards our common goal.
What three words sum up your vision for the future?
- Sustainability
- Global cooperation
- Digital Innovation
Nor-Shipping 2021 – Your Arena for Ocean Solutions – takes place in Oslo and Lillestrøm, 1-4 June 2021. Find out more at www.nor-shipping.com
