CIMAC has released details of the 29th CIMAC World Congress, which takes place in Vancouver, Canada from 10 to 14 June 2019. As the most important platform for information exchange and personal contact between stakeholders in the large engine sector, the Congress will bring together engine and component manufacturers, engineers, researchers, ship-owners, ship-operators and regulators from around the world and create the perfect forum for detailed exchanges of views on the pressing topics of today.

The Congress Preliminary Program gives a taste of the high quality of the 2019 Technical Program and details of a social schedule that aims to create the customary “Congress atmosphere”, with its frequent opportunities for delegates to meet and network. As a location, Vancouver is well chosen. As well as its cultural and touristic attractions, the largest city in British Columbia is also Canada’s largest port and the third largest by tonnage in the Americas. It is a major center of large engine usage, repair and maintenance as well as an acclaimed venue for international conferences, with excellent facilities.


Towards Zero Emissions - an important theme in the Technical Program

In 2016, IMO introduced a new global regulation to limit sulphur content in fuels from 3.5% to 0.5%, coming into effect on 1 January 2020. This 80% reduction in sulphur content will affect an estimated 70,000 ships worldwide. With the deadline looming, the Congress offers an opportunity to take stock of progress. The entire engine and component manufacturing industry has focused its efforts and commitment on finding and implementing solutions to this new emissions measure. “A limit of 0.5% sulphur in fuel represents about 75% of global demand for marine fuels which would mean a huge undertaking for the bunkering/shipping industry and a significant impact on refineries,” says Kjeld Aabo of MAN Energy Solutions and Chair of CIMAC Working Group 7 Fuels. “It’s a large-scale experiment with different types of fuels and fuel-blends, and the response of our engines to this diverse new offering remains to be seen. Our industry is banking on fruitful discussions at the CIMAC Congress in order to gain an overview of the available alternatives,” concludes Aabo, one of the many experts who will be present at the event.

In another historic decision, IMO last year agreed to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) from the global shipping sector by up to 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050. This is a huge challenge for all the segments of the transport sector that rely on combustion engines. “Shipowners and operators do not have all the answers for how to meet the 2050 targets. However, given that a sustainable and commercially viable solution should be found within the next decade, customers, industry and regulators must see eye to eye on the path ahead of us” said Ole-Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology at Maersk. “At the end, it’s about an industry wide cooperation for finding the best way to safely deploy new technologies or further develop existing ones. This largely goes beyond maritime and solutions for sustainable land-based energy production are equally important. We are ready to engage across sectors”, he added.

CIMAC believes that extensive discussion around the potentials for GHG reductions is the urgent need of the hour. Low carbon combustion concepts, alternative and synthetic fuels, and advanced emission reduction strategies are just some of the solutions that will be aired under the umbrella of working ‘Towards Zero Emissions’. Supplementing the presentations will be panel discussions with distinguished panelists from a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders.


Stay tuned to the CIMAC website for previews of three further important themes

‘Intelligent Power Systems / Shipping 4.0’; ‘Operators’ Voice’; and ‘Enhancing Proven Technologies’. With ‘Towards Zero Emissions’, they will all be covered in detail at the CIMAC World Congress 2019 in Vancouver, Canada.

For information about the CIMAC Congress 2019 please visit https://www.cimaccongress.com. 


About CIMAC

CIMAC is the leading global non-profit Association of the Internal Combustion Machinery Industry consisting of National Member Associations and Corporate Members in 26 Countries in America, Asia and Europe.

Contact: 

CIMAC e.V.
Lyoner Str. 18
60528 Frankfurt / Main, Germany

Phone: +49 69 6603 1355
E-mail:  info@cimac.com; Web: www.cimac.com