Lloyd’s Register marks the launch of its Maritime Decarbonisation Hub with a virtual gallery launch and a leadership debate on the transition to a zero-carbon future.

The Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub has been officially launched with the opening of an interactive virtual gallery showcasing well-known artworks reimagined to depict a zero-carbon maritime future. The gallery launch was preceded by a leadership webinar on shipping industry efforts in support of the energy transition.

The Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub aims to accelerate the safe and sustainable decarbonisation of the maritime sector, through leadership, collaboration and evidence-based decision-making. The virtual event pointed to shipping’s decarbonisation challenges and how the industry must work together, embrace new partners and better promote its sustainability efforts.

The ‘Future Seascapes’ exhibition, sees art by Turner, Monet and Van Gogh displayed side by side with zero carbon interpretations of each scene. Created by artist Reuben Dangoor, the works aim to highlight the technological advancements already under way in maritime, as well as engage with audiences beyond shipping to show how the sector is addressing the energy transition. All of the future artworks were informed by Lloyd’s Register research and understanding of a decarbonised maritime industry of the future.

 Included in the collection is JMW Turner’s ‘The Fighting Temeraire’, from 1838. It’s one of his most-celebrated works, depicting the last voyage of the warship HMS Temeraire, as she is towed by a coal-powered tug down the Thames to be broken up for scrap. This final voyage is replicated in the reworked picture with a futuristic twist, as the decaying HMS Temeraire is replaced with a carbon-emitting tanker of today, towed by a tug powered by a hybrid energy source. The piece highlights Lloyd’s Register’s intention to assist the maritime industry in the transformation of global fleets, forging safe, sustainable pathways to a zero-carbon maritime industry.

Lloyd’s Register’s Marine and Offshore Director, Nicholas Brown said: “Throughout our 260-year history, Lloyd’s Register has helped the industry to safely transition safely from sail to coal to oil, and we now look forward to supporting the industry with this 4th propulsion revolution to zero carbon. The ‘Future Seascapes’ exhibition is a showcase of how the Maritime Decarbonisation Hub can help drive the shipping industry towards its ambition by 2050. The paintings take vessels of centuries past, replacing them with the carbon-neutral ships of the future, illustrating the accelerated advancements in technology that we believe the Hub can facilitate through collaboration and expertise.” 

Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Chief Executive Richard Clegg said: “By creating the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub we can help address the growing climate emergency and create a more sustainable future for us all. The Lloyd’s Register Foundation is an independent global charity that aims to make the world a safer place, and we see the Maritime Decarbonisation Hub as a key initiative to deliver our social purpose.”

Speaking at the webinar to launch the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, President and Group Chief Executive Officer at MISC Berhad, Yee Yang Chien, said: “The energy transition is before us. We are all affected. As shipowners, we must act and this requires a practical approach. The Maritime Decarbonisation Hub is another example of how the shipping industry is really trying, and I am hopeful.”

Speaking during the same webinar, Special Adviser, Ocean, to the UN Global Compact, Sturla Henriksen, said; "Most instrumental is how business and markets are disciplining shipping. Financiers are rewarding those who are above regulatory standards, consumers are punishing those who are not transparent, paving the way for higher regulatory standards.”

Other artworks in the ‘Future Seascapes’ exhibition include:

Claude Monet’s Ships on the Seine at Rouen (1873)

  • Monet’s beautiful river scene, featuring past passenger and cargo ships, now features a concept zero-carbon hydrofoil ship. The illustrative design aims to reduce the drag of vessels, improving fuel efficiency on the seas of tomorrow.

Thomas Whitcombe’s A Trinity House Yacht and a Revenue Cutter Off Ramsgate (1810)

  • Here, concept designs have been worked into Dangoor’s remastered iteration of the original. Cutters have been replaced with a striking sail-assisted cargo ship shown battling against Whitcombe’s turbulent waves on a dramatic pink skyline.

Tingqua’s View of Hong Kong (1845-1855)

  • This scene highlighting the significance of the world trade in China has been transported to 2030 via zero-carbon bulk carriers and container ships powered by future-gazing, sustainable fuels, such as ammonia and hydrogen. 

Edward Seago’s Harbour Scene (1910-1974)

  • Continuing to look to Hong Kong, here Dangoor has replaced a local junk-rigged sailing boat with an impressive solar panelled cargo ship. The use of solar panels alongside other renewable energy sources provide an impressive solution to achieve a more sustainable world.

Vincent Van Gogh’s The Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (1888)

  • Featuring fishing boats powered by sail and oar, which already operate in a low-carbon fashion, Dangoor has embraced renewable energy sources further by incorporating an offshore wind farm - an emerging infrastructure and a pivotal part of the seascapes of a more sustainable future.

Artist Reuben Dangoor said: “The Future Seascapes Collection has been an incredibly cool project for me to work on. I loved Lloyd’s Register’s concept of reimagining seascapes of old to depict a future that is both greener and cleaner - and doing so via a digital, technologically advanced medium aligns with the ambitions for the shipping industry to reach their climate ambitions by 2030. All of us need to play our part in tackling the climate crisis, so it’s great to see Lloyd’s Register leading the charge and setting an example to the wider maritime industry.”