Shipbuilder VARD and the independent research organisation SINTEF have signed a strategic partnership to develop new technology aimed at making vessels more efficient and competitive.

The agreement was signed on August 26, SINTEF announced on Friday.

The collaboration will span several technical areas, including ship design, maritime energy and control systems, shipbuilding, deck machinery, and artificial intelligence for vessel data.

The partnership builds on years of cooperation between the two Norwegian organisations. VARD is a shipbuilding group with yards in Norway, Romania, Vietnam and Brazil, while SINTEF is one of Europe's largest independent research organisations, headquartered in Trondheim, Norway.

The agreement comes as shipping faces mounting regulatory pressure to cut its environmental footprint. The International Maritime Organization has set a target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, with interim checkpoints for 2030 and 2040, driving shipowners and builders to pursue efficiency gains, alternative fuels and digital tools.

According to SINTEF, the agreement is intended to support the maritime industry's transition towards lower emissions, new energy solutions and greater digitalisation. The partnership will combine VARD's shipbuilding experience with SINTEF's research expertise to develop solutions grounded in industry needs.

"The agreement with SINTEF is therefore a fundamental factor, both for VARD and for the continued development of the maritime industry," said Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, CEO of VARD.

Source: Ship & Bunker