The three-year partnership will study “concept” ships to reduce the impact of shipping on the environment.

"One of Bellona’s goals is to make the ships of the future independent of fossil fuels,” said the foundation’s president Frederic Hauge.

“This partnership will provide us with new knowledge on innovative shipping construction that will contribute towards achieving that objective.”

He added that the global shipping industry emits large amounts of CO2, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other harmful gases.

“The