In an effort to address the replacement of the HCFC-22 refrigerant in the mobile marine sector, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers is co-organizing an international conference.

The conference, titled “Sustainable Management of Refrigeration Technologies in Mobile Marine and Fisheries Sectors,” takes place April 6-8, 2017, in Bangkok, Thailand. ASHRAE has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Institute of Refrigeration and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, with support from Thailand’s government and the country’s Department of Industrial Works, to organize the conference.

Eighty percent of mobile marine refrigerated systems use HCFC-22, and the conference plans to address how developed and developing countries can phase it out, according to UNEP. 

“ASHRAE is committed to finding alternatives to high global warming potential refrigerants,” said David Underwood, the society’s president. “The global shift to new refrigerants — and in some cases, the return to old, natural refrigerants — means that many new refrigeration investment decisions will be made in the near future. ASHRAE is involved in making these decisions through our standards, research and conferences such as these. This conference will bring together leaders in the field from developed and developing economy countries to successfully implement the transition to new refrigerants.”

For more information about the upcoming conference, visit www.ashrae.org/marine2017.