14/11/2022
Green Award for inland navigation continues to grow and has reached a new milestone: 1,100 certified inland vessels. And number 1,100 is not just any ship: it is the Ab Initio, STC Group’s innovative training vessel. At a festive ceremony on 12 November, the Day of Inland Navigation, delegate Ms Jeannette Baljeu presented the Green Award certificate at the ‘gold’ level to Frits Gronsveld of STC Group’s Executive Board.
(l-r) Jan Fransen, Executive Director Green Award Foundation; Frits Gronsveld, Executive Board of STC-Group; Jeannette Baljeu, Deputy South Holland
Ab Initio means ‘from the beginning’ – students were involved in the ship from the design phase. Nice detail is that Ms Baljeu was involved in the beginning of Green Award for inland navigation, as port alderman of Rotterdam she presented one of the first certificates in 2011, to pusher craft IJsbeer of thyssenkrupp Veerhaven.
Jeannette Baljeu: ‘It is positive to see how Green Award has developed over the past 11 years into one of the most important quality marks for ships in the field of safety and environment. The gold certificate for Ab Initio is more than justified. This ship, built with sustainable materials, with solar panels and a future-proof hybrid propulsion system, shows how sustainable inland navigation is taking shape. Important in our drive towards zero-emission in 2030. The fact that the most sustainable and modern ship of the moment serves as a training ship and can thus make new generations aware of the use of sustainable energy and emission reduction, is of course extra nice.’
(l-r) Cor van Wijngaarden, Onderwijsmanager of STC Group; Jan Fransen, Executive Director of Green Award Foundation; Frits Gronsveld, Executive Board of STC-Group
Jan Fransen, Executive Director of Green Award, is proud of both the milestone achieved and the Ab Initio. ‘On this ship of the future, sailors, steersmen and captains of the future will be trained. This all comes together on board the Ab Initio. I hope the boys and girls become and remain inspired and will pass this on to their future colleagues’.
Frits Gronsveld, chairman STC Group Executive Board: ‘We are very proud of this recognition and, once the ship sails with hydrogen as an energy carrier, we will undoubtedly apply for the platinum Green Award label.’
Onboard Ab Initio
About STC Group
STC Group is the vertical educational and knowledge institution for shipping, transport and port industry. STC Group also provides courses and training for professionals. STC Group operates internationally and has locations at home and abroad. The head office is located in mainport Rotterdam.
www.stc-group.nl/abinitio
