A master thesis from Aalborg University
Cleaner shipping drivers as ecopreneurial opportunities: The case of Frederikshavn
[Renere skibsfart som drivkraft for grøn iværksætteri: Frederikshavn som case]
Author(s)
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2011
Submitted on
2011-06-07
Pages
96 pages
Abstract
Trade and maritime transportation growth attract a closer look into the shipping industry environmental performance. The worldwide maritime sector adopts “green shipping” practices. Green shipping has spurred the demand for pollution control technology, cleaner fuels, and best management practices. Other industry sectors adopt sustainability by the interrelation of technology push, regulation push, market pull and business internal drivers. These drivers may create a demand for eco-innovations which will help the industry sector to fulfill its sustainability requirements. Yet, “green” entrepreneurs’ role is an attention subject about the technological eco-innovations market introduction. This case study uses qualitative data to explore how the drivers of green shipping are creating incentives to ecopreneurship. The case study focuses on Frederikshavn kommune and counts with two maritime clean tech entrepreneurs as units of analysis. Overall, the case study found that regulations will induce cleaner technology adoption in the maritime industry. Meanwhile, the demand for cleaner technology is likely to create a business opportunity for new entrants (e.g. ecopreneurs). Information intermediaries are important players to inform potential entrepreneurs about these opportunities. Yet, some requirements bound maritime clean tech ecopreneurship. The first requirement is a previous experience in the maritime business. The second is partnership with incumbent firms. These findings suggest that the maritime sector faces technological path dependence. However, a strong regulatory scenario can bridge opportunities for the introduction of eco-innovations. These opportunities may be exploited by new entrants to some degree. The most important barrier being the high technology development costs, and the high risks associated to the clean tech introduction.
Keywords
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