Coming Events and Recent News
Technical Presentation: A Pathway Toward Improved Combustion Efficiency and Reduced Emissions Oct 21st
On-Demand Hydrogen and Oxygen Fuel Enhancement for Marine Engines: A Pathway Toward Improved Combustion Efficiency and Reduced Emissions
As the marine industry continues to pursue practical decarbonization solutions, there is growing interest in technologies that can enhance the performance of existing vessel fleets without requiring costly propulsion-system replacements.
Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems Inc. has developed an innovative on-demand hydrogen and oxygen Fuel Enhancement System that generates hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis during engine operation and introduces the gases directly into the combustion process. By producing gas only when needed, the system avoids the challenges associated with onboard compressed hydrogen storage.
During this presentation, attendees will learn about:
✅ The engineering principles behind on-demand hydrogen and oxygen fuel enhancement
✅ Marine system integration considerations
✅ Electrical and energy requirements
✅ Operational controls and maintenance considerations
✅ Potential applications for propulsion and auxiliary engines
✅ Methods for independently measuring fuel consumption and emissions performance
A key focus of the discussion will be the practical realities of applying this technology in marine environments, including vessel safety requirements, engine loading profiles, operating duty cycles, environmental conditions, and performance monitoring.
Marine Pilot Project Opportunity
Empire Hydrogen is seeking to collaborate with the marine engineering community to establish a controlled marine pilot project. The goal is to generate transparent, measurable operational data to evaluate fuel consumption, emissions performance, reliability, maintenance requirements, and overall suitability for marine applications.
Presenter
Sven Tjelta Chairman of the Board Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems Inc.
Sven will share insights into the company’s development of on-demand hydrogen and oxygen fuel-enhancement technology and discuss opportunities for collaboration with marine operators, engineers, researchers, vessel owners, and CIMarE members.
This presentation promises to spark thoughtful discussion on the role innovative technologies may play in supporting more efficient and lower-emission marine operations.
📅 October 21, 7:00 PM 📍 Lower Lounge, Naden Officers’ Wardroom
We look forward to seeing you there!
Technical Presentation: Wind Propulsion: Commercial Scaling – Drivers and Barriers Oct 12th
🌬️ Harnessing the Wind for a Greener Shipping Future ⚓
The maritime industry is navigating a major transformation, and wind propulsion is once again taking center stage.
Join the CIMarE St. Lawrence Branch for an insightful webinar featuring two leading voices in maritime decarbonization as they explore the opportunities, challenges, and realities of commercial wind propulsion in today’s shipping industry.
Wind Propulsion: Commercial Scaling – Drivers and Barriers
📅 October 12, 2026
🕐 13:00 EDT (10:00 PDT | 14:00 ADT | 14:30 NDT)
⏱️ 60 Minutes
💻 Microsoft Teams
Topics Include:
✅ Current market outlook for wind propulsion
✅ EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, EEDI & CII compliance considerations
✅ IMO regulatory developments and verification of wind power contributions
✅ Wind propulsion system technologies
✅ Newbuild and retrofit challenges
✅ Performance measurement and validation
✅ Route opportunities and short-sea shipping applications
✅ Classification society rules and regulatory requirements
Featured Speakers
🎙️ Gavin Allwright
Secretary General, International Windship Association (IWSA)
🎙️ Stefano Scarpa
Director of Maritime Decarbonisation, ABL (Aqualis Group)
As shipping strives to meet ambitious decarbonization targets, wind-assisted propulsion is emerging as a practical and increasingly viable solution. Whether you’re a shipowner, operator, engineer, regulator, student, or maritime enthusiast, this session offers valuable insights into one of the most exciting developments shaping the future of marine transportation.
🔗 Register and join us on October 12th for this timely discussion.
Atlantic Branch Oktober 15th Networking Night!
🍂 Join us for an evening of connections and conversation!
Whether you’re a long-time marine professional, new to the industry, a student, or simply curious about what CIMarE has to offer, we’d love to meet you.
Come enjoy a complimentary drink, appetizers, and great conversations with members of Atlantic Canada’s marine community.
📅 October 15, 2026
📍 Seamus David’s Pub, Dartmouth Crossing
⏰ 6:30 PM
Bring a colleague, friend, or anyone interested in the marine industry. RSVP encouraged at membership@cimare.ca
Vancouver Island Meeting – September 23, 2026
Join Us for the First CIMarE Vancouver Island Branch Meeting of the 2026/2027 Season!
We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Paul Skolik, Project Scientist and environmental consultant, for a timely and insightful presentation:
“Forever Chemicals in the Marine Sector: A New Approach to Modern Environmental Consulting”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are emerging as a significant environmental challenge for the marine sector. Their persistence, widespread use, and potential for long-term accumulation in aquatic environments are driving increased regulatory attention and raising important questions for organizations involved in marine construction, infrastructure, operations, and environmental management.
Dr. Skolik will explore how environmental consulting is evolving beyond traditional compliance-focused approaches and examine opportunities for more proactive, integrated environmental management strategies.
With more than 11 years of experience delivering complex environmental projects across Canada, the UK, and Europe, Dr. Skolik brings valuable insight into one of the industry’s most pressing environmental topics.
📅 Wednesday, 23 September 2026
🕖 1900 hrs
📍 Lower Lounge, Naden Officers’ Wardroom
1586 Esquimalt Road, Esquimalt, BC
As always, members often arrive early to catch up with colleagues before the presentation. Spouses and guests are welcome, and a Q&A session will follow the talk.
We look forward to seeing members, industry colleagues, and guests for an engaging evening of learning and discussion.
Vancouver Island Annual General Meeting and Branch Social
We invite you to join us!
The CIMARE Vancouver Island Branch invites you to join us for our Annual General Meeting and Branch Social.
Date: Wednesday, June 17th, 2026
Location: Upper Wardroom, CFB Esquimalt.
Time: Doors open at 1900 hours, with the AGM beginning promptly at 2000 hours.
The evening will include:
- A summary of the past year’s branch activities and events
- A Mari-Tech conference update and summary
- Election of the new Branch Executive Committee
- An opportunity to connect with members of the local marine community
- All CIMARE members attending will receive one complimentary drink token.
We also encourage members to invite colleagues, coworkers, students, or anyone with an interest in the marine industry who may be interested in learning more about CIMARE, and becoming involved with the Vancouver Island Branch.
The more the merrier — marine engineers are historically known for gathering wherever coffee, machinery,—– or free drink tickets—- are available.
Please register for the event using by clicking on this Google Form.
We hope to see you there for a great evening of networking, branch updates, and community engagement.
Best regards,
Cody McMillan,
Chair
Branch Technical Meeting – St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence Branch Technical Meeting –
June 18, 2026
DATE: Thursday, 18 June 2026
TIME: 12:00 Eastern
CORE POWER
Nuclear Shipping – Reactor Technologies
What to Expect
CORE POWER will build on the historical context of nuclear maritime applications and dive deeper into modern reactor technologies currently available today. The session will focus on their suitability for marine use, with content designed to be accessible to attendees without a nuclear background.
Speaker
Oscar Hamilton, Nuclear Engineer – CORE POWER
Oscar holds a Physics degree from University College London and an MPhil in Nuclear Energy from the University of Cambridge. Since joining CORE POWER in 2023, he has worked extensively on advanced reactor design and floating nuclear power plants, including contributions to the U.S. DOE–funded Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR) program and collaboration with TerraPower, Southern Company, and Orano.
Join us on Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/265045234372148?p=MRwVlyE7ivyYGKk0Co
Historical Events
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
March 2025
DATE: WEDNESDAY EVENING, 19 March 2025
TIME: 1900
LOCATION: IN THE LOWER WARDROOM, HMC DOCKYARD
We will have a presentation by Jamie Webb, Director of the Maritime Museum of BC. “The Maritime Museum of BC is dedicated to sharing our maritime heritage and celebrating our oceans!” No mean task! Jamie will have elements of BC’s rich maritime history as anecdotes woven throughout his presentation.
Jamie started his marine career with a four-year apprenticeship program in Rigging and Sail making. He worked for the Royal Canadian Navy for 20 years, becoming their Senior Protocol Officer. He has been a Naval Reserve Officer and an instructor with the Sea Cadet Program since 1983.
The meeting will convene at 1900 on Wednesday, 19 March @ 1900, in the lower lounge of the Naden Officer’s Wardroom (near the dockyard entrance, at 1586 Esquimalt Rd)
Mem
bers often arrive early to share conversations with colleagues. Spouses and guests are always welcome at our Branch meetings! Meetings have a question and answer period at the end.
Bill Wallace,
Communications Coordinator, for the executive committee
250-661-7369
Branch Meeting – Ottawa
Branch Meeting – Ottawa
February 2025
TITLE: BELZONA SOLUTIONS IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY
DATE: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
TIME: 18:30 TO 21:00 EST (09:00 PST, 13:00 AST 13:30 NDT)
VENUE: Rideau Canal Junior Ranks Mess – Danaca Board Room
Access to the Danaca Board Room can be done through the side door of the building, up a short flight of stairs, through the door and turn right to the elevator, the Danaca room is on the third floor. Parking is available and please park on the canal side of the parking lot. We will have the room from 18:30 to 21:00 hrs. and a cash bar will be provided. A map showing the location of the Mess is attached for your convenience.
ABSTRACT
The topic of this paper will be Belzona Solutions in the Marine Industry and the paper will be touching on the following topics:
- Onboard Solutions: Valves & pipes, Pumps, Heat exchangers, Filters, Tanks, Wet spaces, General repairs
- Dry Dock Solutions: Bow Thrusters, Rudder, Kort Nozzle, Tail Shaft, Stern Tube, Engine Block, Fender.
SPEAKER:
This paper will be presented by Mr. Jon Ferrer who is the Technical Sales Manager for Belzona Great Lakes Division.
Mr. Ferrer is a chemical engineer with a degree from the University of Ottawa and a technical diploma in Electromechanical Engineering – Technician Robotics from Algonquin College. He began his career with Belzona Inc. in 2016 as a Technical Sales Engineer and is now part of the Belzona Great Lakes team, focusing specifically on the Ontario province.
Throughout his time with Belzona, Mr. Ferrer has provided both remote and on-site engineering support to Belzona’s American network of distributors and technical consultants. He now works directly with asset owners and consultants across various industries, including oil and gas, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining and quarrying, marine, water and wastewater, and general manufacturing. His role also involves writing product specifications for Belzona applications and contributing articles to several industry-focused magazines and newsletters.
Branch Meeting – St Lawrence
Branch Meeting – St Lawrence
February 2025
DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025
TIME: 12:00 EST (09:00 PST, 13:00 AST 13:30 NDT)
TO JOIN: CLICK HERE
ABSTRACT
The marine industry is moving to decarbonize as emissions reduction and climate goals become more important each year. Big shifts to alternative fuels and major infrastructure changes may be coming, but there are options available to ship owners right now which can provide both immediate emissions reductions and ROI through fuel savings and lower running hours on equipment, among other benefits.
The presentation will provide an overview of two such studies – retrofit of shore power systems and Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) for bulk carriers trading on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. While both technologies are well understood, comprehensive feasibility studies for their implementation in this region, with its unique challenges and opportunities, are new. The presentation will explain two of these studies being undertaken by ABS and Algoma Central Corporation thanks to funding from Transport Canada, the work completed to date, and early results.
SPEAKER:
Matthyw Thomas
Senior Program Manager / Principal Engineer
Short Bio
Matthyw is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the Canadian Marine industry. He is a technical capability builder and subject matter expert specializing in harsh marine environment regulatory, operational, and design analysis, and advanced systems modeling. He has been with ABS since 2023, delivering programs for customers across the marine government, commercial, and NGO domains.
Branch Meeting February – Atlantic
Branch Meeting February – Atlantic
February 2025
DATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
TIME: 1200 noon Atlantic Time
LOCATION: Brightwood Golf Club
Paul Jamer, President of Helm Management Services, will share a presentation on the current vessel life extension for the CCG Terry Fox.
The CCG Terry Fox vessel life extension project is being conducted by Ontario Shipyards in St Catherines and the vessel has been in the yard since April 2024. A large multitasked icebreaker, the ship is capable of sustained operations in the Arctic archipelago over the summer months and icebreaking escort operations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and East Coast of Newfoundland in the winter. The vessel also assists in various CCG programs including Arctic scientific missions.
The presentation will be in person at Brightwood Golf Club (227 School St, Dartmouth, NS B3A 2Y5) and will be available via GoTo Meeting for those that would like to attend virtually. Please RSVP to receive a meeting link.
RSVP
Travis Franklin,
Secretary, Atlantic Branch
travisfranklin67@gmail.com
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
Branch Meeting – Vancouver Island
February 2025
DATE: WEDNESDAY EVENING, 19 FEBRUARY 2025
TIME: 1900
LOCATION: IN THE LOWER WARDROOM, HMC DOCKYARD
LCdr Ryan deForest, XO of the first of the Canadian Navy’s Protecteur class resupply ships will give a presentation on the vessel’s concept evolution, its design, its capabilities, and its construction status.
Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels are a critical component of blue water navies and are strategic national assets. Replenishment ships increase the range of other ships or a Naval Task Group by letting them stay at sea for longer periods of time before going to port for supplies.
Click the image below to a site with video and details of the ship and a video of the sea-to-shore offloading connector being assembled.
Members often arrive early to share conversations with colleagues. Spouses and guests are always welcome at our Branch meetings! Meetings have a question and answer period at the end.
Bill Wallace,
Communications Coordinator, for the executive committee
250-661-7369
Great Lakes Branch – Annual General Meeting 2025
Great Lakes Branch – Annual General Meeting 2025
Thursday, January 16, 2025
At the Antler Room (The Loose Moose)
146 Front Street, Toronto
Tickets $160.00 (tax included)
Tickets available from Great Lakes Branch
cimareglb@gmail.com