Marine Engineering: Alternative Fuels for Decarbonisation

Thomas Beard: Clean Shipping Service Lead; Principle Marine Engineer, BMT

Jon Hood: UK Sustainable Shipping Manager, Transport & Environment

Jon joined T&E’s shipping team in 2022. Previously a civil servant, he has held a variety of policy roles relating to climate change and clean energy systems, including several years at the Department for Transport working on amendments to the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). Currently he leads T&E’s work on sustainable shipping in the UK, including on maritime emissions trading and zero-emission energy.

Chris Smith: Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Exeter and , Director of the Centre for Future Clean Mobility

Prof Chris Smith is Professor of Mechanical Engineering, deputy Assoc Dean for Research (Industry) for the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and Director of the Centre for Future Clean Mobility. He graduated from the University of Leeds in 1992 and remained there completing a PhD in Biomaterials in 1995. He then worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Universities of York and Exeter. He was appointed Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in January 2000. The Centre for Future Clean Mobility (CFCM) is based at the University of Exeter in the Department of Engineering (Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy). CFCM stands at the forefront of the road to zero carbon and are committed to leading the next generation of clean mobility, which will reduce, then remove fossil fuels from all the vehicles and vessels on our streets, off-the-highways, railways, farms, skies, seas, and waterways, and in our armed forces. CFCM partners with businesses to develop low-emissions, high-efficiency integrated power systems for applications in the marine, off-highway, rail, defence, and energy sectors. CFCM is a world class facility for design, optimisation, development, and testing of near full-scale electrified and hybrid power systems for transport.

Alasdair Cairns: Director of Powertrain Research Centre, University of Nottingham and, Programme Director, MariNH3

Professor Alasdair Cairns is Director of the Powertrain Research Centre at the University of Nottingham, with 24 years’ experience in light and heavy-duty engines. His early career involved 10 years with engineering consultancy MAHLE Powertrain, managing large collaborative R&D programmes on alternative fuelled automotive engines. In 2010 he joined Brunel University as a senior lecturer, being promoted to full Professor in 2013 and refocusing his research towards decarbonised heavy-duty engines. As of late 2016 he joined Nottingham, where he now leads a group of 15 researchers working on decarbonised internal combustion engines for heavy transport and power generation.

Paul Herbert: Principal Technology Specialist - Power and Energy Conversions, Lloyd’s Register

Paul is a Principal Technology Specialist for Power and Energy Conversions within the Technical Directorate of Lloyd’s Register (LR). He holds B.Sc. (Hons.) Mech. Eng. and is a member of IMarEST. Paul has 30 years’ experience in the maritime industry, with background in the mechanical design department of the now defunct Odense Steel Shipyard of Denmark. Assignments included state-of-the-art container vessel systems and complex system design in connection with support vessels and frigates for the Royal Danish Navy. Extensive sea trial participation and technical investigations onboard vessels in service were frequent assignments. On joining LR in 2011, Paul worked within the plan approval section of the Copenhagen office. After initial introduction, Paul has worked extensively with alternative fuels related projects, both new buildings and retrofits. He is fully authorised by LR for the approval of Methane, Methanol, Hydrogen and Ammonia based fuel systems, implementing qualitative risk assessment in accordance with LR’s ShipRight RBC process. Paul was also LR’s global technical authority for Methanol as fuel. Since December 2023, Paul has moved to the Technical Directorate of LR, where he is establishing himself in his current role as Principal Technology Specialist for Power and Energy Conversions.

Louise Wright: Lead Technical Specialist – Risk Assessment & RBC, Lloyd’s Register

Louise is a Technical Authority and Lead Specialist for Risk Assessment and the Risk Based Certification (RBC) process at Lloyd’s Register (LR). She is a chartered mechanical engineer with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMECHE, 2004).
Louise has 20 years’ experience in the oil and gas and maritime industries covering development, review and revision of Safety Cases (or equivalent), workshop facilitation (e.g. HAZID, BowTie), preparation of supporting safety studies (qualitative and quantitative risk assessments) and guidance documents both for design and operational assets. This work includes development of Naval Safety Cases, risk assessment support and hazard log management: previously having advised on the development of a Safety Case regime for the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND).
Louise has experience of training design and delivery in relation to hazard identification techniques including bow-tie analysis, quantitative risk assessment and its use in decision making, and the UK Safety Case regime awareness. This training experience now includes the delivery of the Risk Assessment and RBC course within LR, and externally to industry and Flag Administrations, focusing on the use of alternative fuels within the maritime industry. These alternative fuels include liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.

Richard Gordon: Project Director and Technical Authority – Fuel Cells Automotive and Industrial, Ricardo UK Ltd

Richard Gordon joined Ricardo in 1995, spending 9 years in R&D eventually leading the design, build and global demonstration of Ricardo’s first hybrid electric vehicle in 2003. He worked in Japan for 3 years growing Ricardo’s successes there, and on return led Ricardo’s Niche Technology Vehicles area, responsible for the world’s first robotic aircraft tug. He then led a Technology Strategy group before moving in 2016 to Silicon Valley, leading wireless charging, vehicle electrification and controls. Back in the UK, he headed Ricardo’s R&D teams and portfolio. He is now Technical Authority - Fuel Cells, and project director for advanced technology projects, responsible for a multi-MW marine hydrogen fuel cell system.

Charles Golden: Vice President, Fleet Technical Operations, Maritime, Carnival UK

Charles joined Carnival UK in 2013. In his current role as Vice President, Fleet Technical Operations he is responsible for the material state, condition, compliance and availability of the 11 cruise ships belonging to P&O Cruises and Cunard.

An experienced maritime professional and Chartered Engineer, Charles started his career in the Royal Navy. He served as a Marine Engineer Officer on a variety of naval vessels gaining operational and technical experience both ashore and at sea.

Charles has undertaken a number of maritime roles at Carnival over the last 10 years ranging from technical & operational management to leading initiatives focussed on maritime manning, training & competence.

Tom Strang: Vice President, Maritime Affairs, Carnival Corporation Plc

Tom is a chartered Naval Architect who started his career in British Shipbuilders in Barrow-in-Furness. He then joined Lloyd’s Register where he was involved in all aspects of shipbuilding and ship survey, finishing up as a Senior Passenger Ship Specialist. He joined Carnival Corporation & plc in 2000 and has had a variety of senior roles across the group, including three years as SVP Marine Operations for Costa Cruises. Now SVP Maritime Affairs, Tom is based in the UK where as well as being responsible for Carnival's LNG strategy and ship recycling, he leads our engagement on regulatory aspects of decarbonisation.

Peter Sheppard: Head of Technical & Policy, Institute of Marine Engineering

Peter Sheppard brings over 25 years of versatile leadership across technology and engineering, spearheading transformative initiatives in energy, transportation, telecoms, and IT. He was previously VP Strategy and Planning at Lloyd's Register where he led strategic growth of the Energy division. With a Cambridge MA, Cranfield MBA, and Chartered Engineer status, his expertise spans strategy, project management, and change. As Principal Consultant at PwC, he advised global giants like Vodafone and BT. Peter blends a broad technical background with commercial awareness, shaping tomorrow's strategies. As Head of Technical & Policy at IMarEST, he shapes the institute's technical activities.