In 2015 and 2016 new international requirements for ship emissions are introduced. Such impending requirements, in conjunction with high oil prices has led to growing interest among flag states for the development of more energy-efficient maritime transportation. An interest that both the UN maritime authority (IMO), the national authorities as the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) and others, want to support by in collaboration with other actants seeking to enable the use of, for example, advanced new lightweight materials in ship construction. But before the potential of new lightweight materials can be fully exploited the sector has to consider the infrastructure surrounding the materials and, the possible desirable and undesirable properties of these materials in its new environment.
This thesis presents ways in which the actors involved, consider it possible to make the materials implementable as: the work in progress project COMPASS by which DBI and others are trying to simplify Rule 17 of SOLAS, and in the long run suggest a whole new approach for safety at sea. Others are on the basis of existing regulatory codes trying to develop new and more contemporary codes for this purpose, in addition suggesting a need for EU-contracting rules to be reviewed. Actors whom are involved tries to build on existing networks as well as developing new once, beside working on knowledge communication and involvement of resourceful companies in the implementation work. Moreover, it is argued, in different ways, for which in the maritime sector, the materials can advantageously be implemented, and the multiple benefits expected from the use of such lightweight materials is explained.