This is an alliance of up to 80 companies within the maritime, energy, infrastructure and finance sectors, supported by governments and IGOs.
The coalition is committed to getting commercially viable deepsea zero emission vessels powered by zero emission fuels into operation by 2030, dubbed ‘maritime shipping’s moon-shot ambition’.
It is a partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, the Friends of Ocean action, and the World Economic Forum. It builds on the Call to Action in support of Decarbonisation launched in October, 2018 and is signed by interests from across the maritime industry, financial institutions and other stakeholders, as well as on the Poseidon Principles – a global framework for climate-aligned ship financing – launched on 18th June, 2019.
The coalition’s work will be supported by partners, such as UCL Energy Institute, Environmental Defence Fund and the Energy Transitions Commission.
International shipping emits 2-3% of global GHG emissions, transporting close to 80% of global trade by volume. To curb the emissions from shipping, the IMO has agreed to reduce GHG emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050. To reach this goal and to make the transition to full decarbonisation possible, commercially viable zero emission vessels must start entering the global fleet by 2030, with their numbers radically scaled up through the 2030s and 2040s.
This will require both developing the vessels, as well as the future fuel supply chain, which can only be done through close collaboration and deliberate collective action between the maritime industry, the energy sector, the financial sector, and governments and IGOs, the coalition said.
Member Anglo-Eastern’s CEO Bjorn Hojgaard, said: “’Shaping a better maritime future’ is not just a tagline. At Anglo-Eastern, it’s what drives us to do what we do as seafarers, as ship managers, as members of the maritime community, and importantly, as part of this blue planet we call home.
“By joining the Getting to Zero Coalition, we are further committing ourselves to the cause, lending additional credence and direction to our efforts, whilst also aligning ourselves with like-minded organisations for a higher purpose and greater good,” he said.
Bjarne Foldager – Senior Vice President, Head of 2-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, added: “Joining the Getting to Zero Coalition makes perfect sense for us as system technologies that help our customers to reduce emissions and lead the way to a carbon-neutral future already form a significant part of our business strategy.
“We understand the need to work with a wide group of industry partners to achieve this strategy and the Getting to Zero Coalition is therefore a perfect match. In shipping, MAN Energy Solutions has publicly spoken out in favour of a ‘maritime energy transition’ for some time now, which draws on the increased use of low-emission fuels.
“For us, the path to decarbonising the maritime economy starts with fuel decarbonisation, which will be a natural step toward the development of zero emission vessels,” he explained.
“The greatest challenge of our generation – and the next – will be the decarbonisation of the shipping industry,” said Christopher Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO. “ABS is committed to ensuring the transition to a low carbon and clean-emissions future is achieved through solutions that meet the highest safety standards, are commercially viable, and technically feasible. That is why ABS is proud to be amongst the first to join the Getting to Zero Coalition.”
Alastair Marsh, CEO, Lloyd’s Register, said: “The International Maritime Organisation’s 2050 GHG ambitions require substantial and collaborative input from all maritime stakeholders and beyond. Getting to zero is about more than the delivery of zero-emissions vessels into the world fleet by 2030. As an industry we need to ensure that the infrastructure and supply chain is in place to support this change. Lloyd’s Register is proud to be part of the coalition to collaborate on opportunities and support the sector’s future achievements.”
“We wish to increase the awareness of the need to develop real alternatives that can make the development of vessels with zero emissions possible. We in NORDEN have already set sail with various initiatives such as biofuel to help the agenda on its way, and we see the establishment of this new coalition as another step. A step we are proud to take with other highly reputed members from other related industries, sharing the common ambition of zero emission vessels,” explained NORDEN CEO, Jan Rindbo on joining the alliance.