The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is inviting maritime technology providers to submit entries to the IMO CARES (Coordinated Actions to Reduce Emissions from Shipping) Maritime Technology Global Challenge, which is designed to accelerate the identification and deployment of innovative decarbonization solutions for ports and domestic vessels in Africa and the Caribbean, according to an article published on its website.
Entering the competition
The Challenge was launched via a virtual event (22 November) featuring speakers from the IMO CARES team as well as representatives from the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) in Africa and the Caribbean.
The competition is now open for submissions via the IMO CARES website. Entries are accepted until 18:00 (UTC) on Sunday 7 January 2024. The winners will be selected by an independent judging panel consisting of representatives from the regional MTCCs, academic bodies, and other IMO Cares stakeholders. The results will be announced at the end of January 2024. The winners will be expected to submit their final proposals by April 2024.
Up to four winning technology providers will be selected by an expert panel and will receive funding of USD 15,000 to $30,000 to develop bespoke technical proposals for the implementation of their solutions in specific countries.
Additional funds of approximately $500,000 may be made available at a later stage for the demonstration of the winning technologies in each participating country, under the Global MTCC Network (GMN) project, which is funded by the European Union.
An online introduction to the Challenge key components took place in July 2023, Representatives from the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) in Africa and the Caribbean shared information about decarbonization aspirations and challenges in these regions.
Addressing the Technology Gap
The Maritime Technology Global Challenge is a cornerstone of the IMO CARES project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at supporting developing countries in achieving the IMO’s energy efficiency and GHG reduction targets.
The project places a strong emphasis on supporting climate-vulnerable countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which face unique challenges in transitioning to low-carbon operations and are vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
The IMO CARES project is funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is implemented by the IMO. The project aims to coordinate and link various global initiatives to accelerate the decarbonization process of the maritime sector in developing countries.
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Source: IMO
