With safety being the main concern over nuclear-powered ships, there is a need to focus on building green ships, Indian Maritime University (IMU) Visakhapatnam campus director, Suresh Chandra Misra said.

Addressing a press conference on IMU's Tech Samudra-2012, a three-day international conference cum exhibition on technology of the sea that is set to begin on December 6, here on Tuesday, Misra said that nuclear-powered ships are not very safe when compared to fuel-powered ships and are also expensive.

He said the objective behind Tech Samudra was to bring about changes in design and production of marine vehicles, structures and associated systems and services coupled with societal demands of green technology applications, reduction of environmental pollution and requirement of higher standards of performance.

Four keynote speakers have been invited across the globe to give a presentation particularly on green ship designing and technology for sustainable marine activity. "Green ship concept is nothing but building a ship with lower emission levels and other environmental hazards. Future needs green ships in order to control sea and environmental pollution, he explained.

IMU students will also be making eight paper presentations while its faculty and research scholars would make 39 technical presentations during the conference.

The topics include hydrodynamics, structures, vibration and noise due to machinery and wake, stability of floating structure and jetties, safety security and reliability, propulsion engines and systems, auxiliary systems, port and harbour operations and offshore activities.

State ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao will be the chief guest on the occasion and IMU vice chancellor G Raghuram will be presiding over the programme.

Source: TNN