The research in this paper aims to analyze the perception and degree of involvement of employees from a Romanian shipyard in the process of preparing sustainability reports, with a focus on the integration of ESG criteria into organizational performance. The motivation for this study is to understand how directly productive employees within a shipyard see the usefulness of improving sustainability performance by integrating ESG criteria. To conduct this research, the authors used a survey-based analysis method, which was carried out using a questionnaire. This was sent online to target employees, and the defined hypotheses were validated based on the results obtained using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 statistical analysis software. The statistical results have shown that the employees in the analyzed departments perceive the importance of measuring, monitoring, and reporting sustainability performance in the company’s value chain. The originality of the work lies in the fact that this is the first study of its kind to be carried out within a shipyard in our country, with direct implications for the development of future sustainability reports.

This study analyzes the feasibility of increasing the energy and economic efficiency of a residential heating and domestic hot water (DHW) preparation system with a solar-assisted air-to-water heat pump (AWHP), implemented in southeast Romania. The following options are evaluated from the sustainability point of view (energy, economic and CO₂ emissions): renovation of the building and modernization of the system by integrating an electric accumulator, increasing the capacity of photovoltaic panels (PV) and solar thermal collectors (STCs), and the option of replacing the AWHP with a ground-source heat pump (GSHP) with a vertical loop (GSHP-VL) and a GSHP with a horizontal loop (GSHP-HL). The energy performance of heating systems was simulated using GeoT*SOL software. The results show that by renovating a home, the energy requirement for heating decreased by about 58%; therefore, following the current financial rules applied to prosumers, the GSHP-VL system has the best energy performance (electricity consumption and solar coverage rate of this consumption), economic performance (investment recovery period and annual operating cost) and environmental performance (lowest CO₂ emissions) and that through a government program that promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in homes, capital costs can be reduced by (43–57)% in the case of systems with HP, PV and electric storage. This study shows that a 5 kW PV system combined with 5 kWh battery cannot cover the full heat demand of a medium-to-large house during the winter, and for full energy independence, a larger PV array paired with a higher-capacity battery is necessary. Generous government subsidies amounting to 50% can reduce the payback period for such investments from (11.26–14.68) years to (5.86–7.26) years.

Commercial refrigeration systems represent some of the largest energy consumers in supermarkets, and therefore particular attention needs to be paid to increasing energy efficiency to reduce overall energy consumption and meet climate goals by 2030. This study investigates the performance of a CO₂ (R744) commercial refrigeration system with evaporators operating alternately in dry and flooded modes. This operation is possible due to a particular adjustment using liquid sensors installed in the middle of both low-temperature (LT) and medium-temperature (MT) liquid separators, which transmit information to the controllers that regulate the compressor rack and evaporators, to switch from dry to flooded operation when the liquid level rises and vice versa when the level drops. The results show that the correct regulation of the system of 50% with 6K superheat operation and 50% with 3K superheat operation on MT evaporators, respectively, and 50% with 6K superheat operation and 50% with 4K superheat operation on LT evaporators leads to a reduction of energy consumption compared to 100% operation of all evaporators with 6K superheat by 6.9% per year for the compressor rack.

This study presents Romania’s inaugural LNG bunkering and commissioning operation, conducted at Damen Shipyard in 2 Mai, focusing on the implementation of international safety standards and environmental protection measures for an LNG-powered Ro-Ro cargo vessel. The operation involved a phased cooldown using vaporized and liquid nitrogen, followed by LNG transfer via pressure differential, with strict precautions to avoid thermal damage and ecological impact. Despite logistical delays due to the lack of national customs procedures for LNG fuel, the operation was successfully completed. Comparative analysis with similar procedures of LNG bunkering in Cartagena (Spain) and Tilbury (Canada) highlights key differences in technical execution and regulatory context. The findings demonstrate Romania’s capacity to safely handle LNG operations and underscore the importance of standardized national frameworks to support the growth of LNG bunkering in emerging maritime regions.

The maritime industry, a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, faces mounting pressure to transition toward sustainable operations through the integration of renewable energy technologies. This study offers a detailed comparative analysis of two solar-powered vessels, MS Tûranor PlanetSolar and Energy Observer, with a focus on their proven design principles, energy systems, and contributions to maritime decarbonization. MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, the first solar-powered vessel to circumnavigate the globe, features a solar-only design powered by 512 m² of photovoltaic panels and a 1,350 kWh lithium-ion battery system. This configuration allows for zero-emission operations but presents limitations in scalability and energy autonomy.In contrast, Energy Observer combines solar panels, wind turbines, and hydrogen fuel cells, showcasing a hybrid energy system capable of producing and storing hydrogen through onboard seawater electrolysis. This approach significantly extends its autonomy and operational versatility, making it more adaptable to diverse environmental conditions. The study evaluates the energy efficiency, environmental impact, and scalability of these vessels, highlighting their role as benchmarks for sustainable maritime engineering. By examining their real-world applications and limitations, the research underscores the importance of hybrid renewable energy systems and optimized designs in accelerating the decarbonization of global shipping. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers, engineers, and industry stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable practices within the maritime sector.

This paper presents the local structural analysis of a steel foundation supporting the pumps of a potable water system installed on a 30,000 DWT Handymax bulk carrier. The aim is to evaluate the structural behaviour of the foundation under static and dynamic loads representative for shipboard service and to propose simple constructive improvements that enhance stiffness and vibration performance. The potable water system is briefly described, including design requirements, sizing of the pumps, hydrophore unit and heat exchanger. The support structure is modelled in 3D CAD and analysed using the finite element method in ANSYS Mechanical, considering the mass of the pump unit and excitation frequencies up to 60 Hz. Three foundation variants are investigated: the initial design, a stiffened version obtained by adding local reinforcements and an alternative closed-section frame using rectangular hollow profiles. For each model, deformations and equivalent von Mises stresses are evaluated and compared with the yield limit of steel S235JR and with serviceability criteria from Eurocode 3. The results show that the optimized foundation with rectangular hollow sections significantly reduces maximum deformations and improves dynamic behaviour, without exceeding allowable stress levels. Recommendations for monitoring, maintenance and vibration isolation using spring-type anti-vibration mounts are also formulated.