Naming ceremony held for SV Juren Ae, a wind-powered vessel supported by GIZ for the Marshall Islands

A milestone was celebrated at the Asia Shipbuilding on Geoje Island, Korea — the naming ceremony and upcoming handing over of the first wind-propulsion, Pacific Island Sailing Supply vessel for domestic sea transportation in the Marshall Islands and in the Pacific Region – The SV Juren Ae.

This significant achievement was made possible with the collaborative effort of the GIZ Project "Low Carbon Sea Transport" and various partners, including the University of Applied Sciences Emden-Leer (HEL), Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation (MISC), Asia Shipbuilding, Kostec, and other national partners working towards fostering sustainable shipping solutions in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The name “Juren Ae” is Marshallese and refers to one of the main paddles of the traditional outrigger canoe that has been used for centuries in the atoll nation, steering ships in the desired direction.

The event was attended by high-level politicians including the Marshallese delegation, consisting of Transport Minister Kendall, Education Minister Bejang and his wife Ms. Mary Bejang, who gave her blessing as godmother of the vessel, and Project key stakeholder Ambassador Albon Ishoda, who is also appointed as Special Envoy for Maritime Decarbonization.

The Juren Ae, with its sturdy hull and big sails, carries more than cargo and passengers. It reflects stories of resilience that brings up to 80% saving potential of CO2 emissions in comparison to the rest of the MISC fleet.