All federal agencies are required to use renewable products ardship mandate. By supporting emerging green techwhere applicable. We also have an obligation to advance nologies and the subsequent development of new markets, the green movement through leadership in purchasing the Green Ship Initiative upholds this mandate. power and help advance new technologies in the private Overall we have experienced a 17 percent decrease in sector. operating costs primarily due to material cost savings and Recently, alternatives to petroleum oil have gained refining maintenance and operating practices. Capital unprecedented support in the government and general costs have also been dramatically reduced as vessel and public. Bio-fuels, in particular due to relatively high vol- equipment life cycles are extended. umes, offer both a reduction in petroleum consumption and What is the "Green Ship emissions. Most bio-based prodWorking Group"? Overall we have experienced a 17 A: With increased media and ucts also provide operational and worker health and safety bene- percent decrease in operating costs industry attention, the number of fits. inquires and technical questions primarily due to material cost sav- from vessel operators in both What makes the Green Ship ings and refining maintenance and public and private sectors have Initiative so unique, besides the exploded. To better communicate fact that it uses bio-fuels and operating practices. Capital costs lessons learned and share technibio-products? cal resources, GLERL established have also been dramatically DD: We try to push the most the Green Ship Working Group promising technologies. Our use reduced as vessel and equipment with participants from NOAA, of B100, as opposed to B20, was university and commercial vessel life cycles are extended. groundbreaking at the time and operators. The Working Group is steadily increasing in other plans to partner with other Dennis Donahue, applications. We also give prefermarine organizations and use ence to products with the highest outreach and educational tools, NOAA marine superintendent bio content. Mechanical devices such as Internet list serves, or operating practices that potennewsletters and workshops. tially reduce emissions or aquatic impact are also included Initially focused on science research ships, this network is for evaluation. Lastly, we determine what changes are growing in its scope and diversity. needed in system design or operation in order to make the bioproducts work in existing systems. This is fundamen- Now that all three GLERL research vessels have been tally different from other initiatives in that they usually converted to 100 percent bio-based products, what is in focus on the reverse. Instead of engineering bio-products store for the future? into new vessel design, this project included conversion of A: Although the Green Ship Initiative's goal of bio-based vessels 30 to 50 years old. As technology and regulatory operation has been reached, much work remains in folchanges are advancing new construction, this project is low-up evaluation of the conversion and future exploproviding practical, cost effective alternatives to the large ration of opportunities to further expand the use of legacy fleet. renewable fuels in other aspects of GLERL research operations. There seems to always be new materials, design Can you explain how the use of bio-fuels and bio-prod- options and equipment for evaluation. Some preliminary ucts helps NOAA to fulfill its mission? work with ethanol as an alternative to gasoline fueled twoDD: Embracing our obligations as stewards of the cycle outboards (marine engines) will be revisited in the environment has become a source of pride for GLERL. very near future. Multi-fuel engines, fuel cells and hydroThe general public and other stakeholders in the agency gen power may also have applications onboard research have shown great interest in our efforts. Many elements vessels. Long-term impact assessments on mechanical syshave already been directly transferred to recreational and tems and material compatibility issues will take several commercial operators. years to complete. NOAA is a seafaring agency with an environmental stew34 MN
March 2008