Council of Experts - Maritime Plattform

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The Council of Experts

The Council of Experts, composed of experts in various professions, advises the Board of Management. The members provide their expertise, experience and their network in order to help actively structure the introduction of LNG in the German market.

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Christian P. Hoepfner

Unifeeder Group

Director Group Sustainability

Dr. Martin Kröger

German Shipowners' Association, Hamburg

Chief Executive Officer

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Freerk Meyer

Hochschule Emden-Leer

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Ship Propulsion, Ship Operating Systems, Department of Maritime Studies, Emden University of Applied Sciences Leer.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Marian Paschke

University professor em. at the University of Hamburg, Director of the Institute of the Law of the Sea and of Maritime law at the University of Hamburg

Jos Steeman

von Beust & Coll. Beratungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Hamburg Ambassador of the Netherlands, Senior Adviser

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Timmerberg

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Department Umwelttechnik

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Friedrich Wirz

Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg)

Marine Engineering

Christian P. Hoepfner

Unifeeder Group

Director Group Sustainability

Career

since 2022	Director Group Sutainability at the Unifeeder Group
since 2019	Managing Partner of Wessels Marine GmbH, Hamburg with focuses on project development and project management services in combination with qualified engineering know-how for solutions with LNG as maritime fuel. As the Project Manager responsible for the world's first conversion of a container ship to LNG operation, he has well-founded and proven experience in the use of LNG as maritime fuel. This includes the conversion and subsequent launch of seagoing vessels. The flagship project "Wes Amelie", funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, has contributed significantly to the establishment of LNG as a maritime fuel in Northern European container short sea traffic. The “Wes Amelie" has been in permanent LNG operation in the North and Baltic Seas since September 2017.
until December 2018	member of the management board of Wessels Reederei, where he was responsible for business and project development
since 2005	Various management positions for well-known shipping companies in Germany and abroad, since 2007 primarily in business and project development

Studied Maritime Transport and Harbour Economics at the Jade University Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth and Maritime Management and Economics at the University of Plymouth, England

Dr. Martin Kröger

German Shipowners' Association, Hamburg

Chief Executive Officer

Berufliche Tätigkeiten

Dr. Martin Kröger leitet als Hauptgeschäftsführer den Verband Deutscher Reeder (VDR). Er ist seit fast einem Jahrzehnt in der Geschäftsführung des VDR tätig, der als Arbeitgeberverband die Rechts- und Wirtschaftsinteressen deutscher Reedereien vertritt. Dr. Kröger ist zugelassener Rechtsanwalt an der hanseatischen Rechtsanwaltskammer Hamburg.

Dr. Kröger bekleidet verschiedenste Ehrenämter in leitender Funktion in zahlreichen nationalen, europäischen und internationalen Gremien und Organisationen. Unter anderem ist er Mitglied des Board of Directors der International Chamber of Shipping ICS in London, hier Vorsitzender des "Marine Committee", und des EU-Reederverbandes ECSA in Brüssel. Er ist Vorsitzender des Umwelt- und Sicherheitsausschusses der ECSA, Mitglied des Vorstandes der European Maritime Law Organisation EMLO, Mitglied des Kuratoriums der deutschen Seerechtsstiftung und berät eine Vielzahl internationaler und europäischer Organisationen in maritimen Angelegenheiten.

Seit 2013 ist er zudem als Geschäftsführer Mitglied der Geschäftsleitung der Schifffahrtstandort Deutschland Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH und setzt sich in dieser Funktion für eine Förderung der nautischen und technischen Ausbildung, Qualifizierung und Fortbildung von Besatzungsmitgliedern der deutschen Handelsflotte durch die Stiftung Schifffahrtsstandort Deutschland ein.

Vor seiner Tätigkeit als Interessenvertreter deutscher Reedereien war Dr. Kröger im Zentralverband der deutschen Seehafenbetriebe (ZDS) tätig, zuletzt als Geschäftsführer, und engagierte sich in dieser Funktion auch aktiv in der Arbeit der Federation of European Private Port Operators – FEPORT in Brüssel.

Dr. Kröger hat 2001 sein Studium der Rechtswissenschaften an der Universität Hamburg in Deutschland abgeschlossen. 2003 erwarb er einen Master of Laws-Abschluss im Schifffahrtsrecht mit Auszeichnung an der Universität von Kapstadt. 2004 wurde Dr. Kröger mit dem Capt. Bob Deacon Shipping Law Prize der University of Cape Town ausgezeichnet. 2006 wurde ihm von der Universität Hamburg der Doktor der Rechtswissenschaften (Dr. jur.) verliehen. Dr. Kröger ist zudem Absolvent des Executive Education-Programms zu International Trade Policy sowie Climate Change and Energy der John F. Kennedy School of Government der Harvard University.

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Freerk Meyer

Hochschule Emden-Leer

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Ship Propulsion, Ship Operating Systems, Department of Maritime Studies, Emden University of Applied Sciences Leer.

Career

Degree course:	Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hanover
1990	Graduation: Diploma examinations at the Institut für Kolbenmaschinen (IfKo)
1990 - 2010	Employed at the Nordseewerke GmbH shipyard in Emden (later: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems). Tasks included: the development of modern submarine engines, various R+D activities, design project manager (Emden) for the German Marine corvettes, department manager for "cross-divisional tasks" in the area of surface vessel construction
since 2010	Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the shipping faculty at the Hochschule Emden-Leer. Teaching and research in the areas of mechanical engineering, ship operating systems and ship engines. Cooperation in the InterReg project "MariTIM" (LNG Passenger Vessel and Maritime knowledge cooperation) and in the LNG Initiative Nordwest as well as consulting activities on the above topics.
since 2014	Dean of Studies for the faculty
	Collaboration in various university committees (senate, faculty board …)

Reasons for my commitment to the Maritime Platform e.V.

I believe that there is a critical need for the development of current ship engines in order to reduce the emission of harmful exhaust gases by the shipping industry. The use of LNG currently seems to be the best solution on the path towards significant improvements with regard to environmentally friendly ship engines. The required technologies are largely available but need to be developed. In addition, LNG technologies also need to be made clear and attractive for potential users, political decision-makers and customers. I want to contribute to this.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Marian Paschke

University professor em. at the University of Hamburg, Director of the Institute of the Law of the Sea and of Maritime law at the University of Hamburg

Career

1974 - 1979	Law degree at the Free University of Berlin
1982	Graduated as Dr. iur. from the Law Faculty of the Free University of Berlin
1989	Post-doctoral qualification and venia legendi (authorization to teach) civil law, business and commercial law, industrial property rights and copyright and media law by the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel
1990	University Professor at the University of Heidelberg
seit 1992	University Professor at the University of Hamburg
seit 1996	Director of the Institute of the Law of the Sea and of Maritime law at the University of Hamburg
2006	Awarding of an honorary doctorate (hon. Dr.) by the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia
	- Teaching and research visits to Hastings College of the Law San Francisco, McGill University Montreal/Canada and Stellenbosch University/South Africa
	- Regular guest lectures at the St. Petersburg State University/Russia, MGIMO Moscow/Russia, Charles University in Prague/Czech Republic and the University of Sofia/Bulgaria
since January 2008	Member of the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg, Energy and Resources Working Group
since 2013	Member of the "Energy systems of the future – ESYS" project for the German Academies of Science

Jos Steeman

von Beust & Coll. Beratungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Hamburg Ambassador of the Netherlands, Senior Adviser

Hamburg Ambassador of the Netherlands since 2021
Senior Adviser, von Beust & Coll. Beratungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Shell

1982–2000	In several Shell companies, working in different geographies (Netherlands, UK, Germany, Dubai)
2000–2008	Responsible for significant businesses (Tankstellenführer Shell Retail Germany, Shell Retail Real Estate Europe) and important change projects (“Downstream One”, Merger Shell and DEA Retail in Germany)

Vopak

since 2021	Hamburg Ambassador of the Netherlands
August 2020–2022	Global Account Director, Royal Vopak N.V.
October 2019–June 2020	anaging Director, Evos GmbH, Hamburg
2016–2019	Managing Director, Vopak Dupeg Terminal Hamburg GmbH
2013–2016	Managing Director, Vopak Oil Rotterdam
2008–2013	President, Vopak Latin America, based in Buenos Aires

Non Executive Director roles

2011–now	Chairman of the DMIC, Dutch Mexican Investment Council
2015–now	Member of the board of the NCH Latin America, Dutch trade promotion
2017–2020	Member of the Board at UTV e. V. (Independent crude oil storage Association e. V.)
2013–2016	Member of the Board at Maasvlakte Oil Terminal BV (Crude oil storage JV between ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Total, Gunvor and Vopak)

My reasons for getting involved in the Expert Council of the Maritime Platform:
"I am pleased to be able to support the work of the platform in the future. LNG is an important business area that the Maritime Platform will continue to focus on. I would like to contribute Vopak's global experience with LNG, especially with the GATE terminal in Rotterdam, in order to further improve the framework conditions for the maritime use of LNG in Germany. The platform is the right partner for Vopak for this."

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Timmerberg

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Department Umwelttechnik

since 01.10.2021 Department of Environmental Engineering at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW).

Professor of Environmental Process Engineering, Renewable Fuels and Energy Economics.

Teaching areas/subjects: Renewable fuels, energy system analysis

Sustainability assessment

Main topics/core competencies: Fuels in transportation

Import of renewable energy sources

2018-2021 Deputy head of the “Renewable Fuels” group at the Institute for Environmental Technology and Energy Economics at TU Hamburg

2020 PhD at the TU Berlin “Hydrogen supply from North Africa to the EU”

since 2015 Research assistant at the Institute for Environmental Technology and Energy Economics at TU Hamburg

2011-2014 M.Sc. Energy Technology at RWTH Aachen University (study abroad at UC Berkeley)

M.Sc. Economics at the RWTH Aachen University

2007-2011 B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University (stay abroad at IIT Delhi)

Main research interests:

Energy system analysis with a focus on low-greenhouse gas fuelsTechno-economic conceptualization and evaluation of the supply of low-greenhouse gas fuels

Ecological assessment of alternative fuels and energy sources in the energy system

Conceptualization and evaluation of regulations to reduce GHG emissions in transport

Reasons for my involvement in the Maritime Platform e. V.:

“To achieve the Paris climate protection goals, all sectors, including shipping, must take climate protection seriously and act quickly. Climate protection in shipping is playing an increasingly important role at Maritimen Plattform e.V.. Further increasing the importance of climate protection and discussing climate protection options with science, politics and practice is the motivation for my involvement in the Maritime Platform.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Friedrich Wirz

Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg)

Marine Engineering

Career

Degree course:	Mechanical Engineering at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)
2006 - 2010	Research Assistant at Institute of Ship Design and Ship Safety, TUHH
2009 - 2011	Gas- and Dual Fuel System Engineering for Marine Four Stroke Engines, MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, Augsburg
2011 - 2012	Head of Marine Propulsion Systems Team, MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, Augsburg
2012 - 2013	Head of Propulsion and Control Design Group, HATLAPA Uetersener Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Uetersen
since 2013	Head of Marine Engineering Working Group (ASM), TUHH

Research focus:

Safe operation of two fuel engines and LNG systems under real-life operating conditions (aided by medium-speed two-fuel research engines with LNG tanks, evaporator and gas control system as well as CommonRail injection system, high pressure external charging and exhaust gas recirculation)
Development of gas components for the safe natural gas fuelled operation of marine engines
Optimisation of Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) considering propulsion issues and operating conditions
Hybrid propulsion systems and their operating strategies
Measurement technology of large engines

Reasons for my commitment to the Maritime Platform e.V.

LNG is a marine fuel which has considerable environmental advantages over conventional fuels and its use should therefore be extended and promoted in shipping. The LNG platform allows all key stakeholders in our region to co-operate and throw their forces behind LNG as a marine fuel. We - i.e. myself and my colleagues at the Marine Engineering Working Group of the TUHH - would like to contribute to this.