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 Research
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Maritime Research, Technology, Demonstration, and Deployment
(RTDD)
Facilitating
Transportation Innovation
INNOVATION
NEEDS:
Environmental Focusing for the Future
Growing interest in preserving the environment
requires a longer term examination of alternative system design possibilities to enable
meeting future needs at competitive costs and without delays.
 Contemporary land, water, and
air uses and development patterns are plagued by traffic congestion and air and water
pollution. The fast pace of the global marketing environment and transport needs requires
rethinking in this environment. Efforts must be spent to develop a consensus on how growth
must meet the needs of the marketplace and yet maintain a safe and desirable living
environment. |
Major R&D Thrust
Areas
- Ship Scrapping
Innovative engineering, technical production, and management solutions are critically
needed for the disposal of obsolete U.S. vessels in an environmentally safe, sound, and
economically feasible manner. MARAD has numerous ships located in Government reserve
fleet sites which are no longer needed and are in significant danger of sinking, leaking
contaminants, polluting the environment. Previous methods of disposing of ships by selling
them abroad are no longer permitted through EPA regulations which do not permit export of
hazardous wastes. Funding to dispose of them properly is limited, and near- and long-term
solutions are necessary to reduce risk to the environment and minimize costs of
maintenance. A statutory deadline of September 30, 2006, for the disposal of the remaining
obsolete vessels exists. Innovative near-term solutions are thus now critically needed.
- Ballast Water
Shipping moves over 80% of the world’s commodities and transfers
approximately 3 to 5 billion tonnes of ballast water internationally each year.
Ballast water is required for the safe and efficient operation of shipping, providing
balance and stability to ships. Invasion of exotic species associated with the
release of ballast water by ships can cause extremely severe and negative environmental,
economic and public health impacts. Reducing the risk of exotic species introduction
requires the establishment of a ballast water treatment standard. However, there is
a limited number of technologies that are developed to the point of being tested aboard a
vessel. A test protocol and validation process designed to move the technology
from the lab to shipboard use is urgently needed in order for the industry to effectively
remain competitive and safe.
Other Supporting Developments and Useful
Background Information
- Waterborne Transport as
a Complementary Transportation Mode
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