Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design (headquartered in Amsterdam) is experiencing rapid growth due to the high demand for customized decarbonization solutions from shipowners. To meet market needs and demand, they have established offices in Argentina and Singapore. Currently, Aurelia employs 25 people worldwide and continues to expand. We interviewed Raffaele Frontera, CEO of the company, about their business strategy. (Interviewer: Hirofumi Yamamoto)
――What is the concept behind the establishment of Aurelia?
“Aurelia was established to revolutionize the shipping industry by combining operational expertise with innovative minds to make it more environmentally friendly. We recognized the communication gap between shipowners and technology providers in the green sector and aimed to bridge this gap to accelerate decarbonization efforts.”
“Today, Aurelia represents shipowners, presenting pathways to decarbonization through a team of specialized ship designers and mechanical engineers. This service is supported by an extensive supplier network within the broader maritime industry. AURELIA’s mission is to transform the global shipping industry.”
“I was inspired by the words of Enzo Ferrari: ‘If you ask a child to draw a car, they will draw it in red.’ Based on this, our mission is to ‘have children draw ships in green.'”
――Aurelia has handled many excellent ship designs so far. Can you tell us about the designs Aurelia has worked on or plans to work on in the future?
“In the car carrier project, we aim for sustainable transportation along the Yangtze River with a 1000RT vessel using compressed hydrogen and adopting a fuel cell propulsion system. For the container ship project, a new 2800TEU container ship will feature a dual-fuel system of HFO (heavy fuel oil) and hydrogen, optimizing container loading in the forward living quarters.”
“In the speed boost for general cargo ships, we increased the speed of a general cargo ship by 3 knots using green energy according to the client’s requirements. We have analyzed the feasibility of wind assistance and hydrogen solutions and presented an investment plan. For the ammonia-hydrogen carrier, a two-stage project compares ammonia propulsion with liquid hydrogen propulsion, considering market competitiveness and infrastructure. The client has chosen ammonia, and we are working on an advanced conceptual design for a 5000m³ ammonia carrier.”
“In our retrofit strategy, we introduced plug-in retrofit solutions, including sails and battery-equipped smart navigation software. The GAMMA project involves retrofitting an Ultramax bulk carrier for hydrogen fuel cells. Co-funded by the European Commission, it started in January 2024.”
――In the shipping market, with the introduction of the EU-ETS, ship designs with high fuel efficiency are becoming more favored. How can Aurelia contribute in this area?
“With a team of experts in green technology systems, we can provide our clients with customized investment plans, ROI analysis, and feasibility studies, offering unique solutions to help achieve CO2 and GHG emission reduction targets. Aurelia participates in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held at the IMO headquarters in London, providing technical support on the latest international developments.”
――Can you tell us about your future business strategy?
“The strength of Aurelia lies in our team, which forms a strong group with diverse expertise, including system integration, hydrodynamic analysis, direct operational offshore experience, software development, and economic backgrounds.”
“Since its establishment, Aurelia has chosen to remain an independent company, establishing a wide network of suppliers and connections in the maritime field, including technology providers and port authorities. This approach has earned AURELIA the trust of shipowners, allowing us to offer multiple solutions through open collaboration, leading the way into the future. Clients rely on AURELIA to provide integrated systems with unique, customized solutions that comply with the latest maritime regulations. This spirit defines our past, present, and future. Aurelia aims to continue evolving as a dynamic group capable of applying futuristic ideas while maintaining a practical operational perspective.”
