Decarbonization News

The latest Fuel Economics Report published by WinGD has found that while retrofitting for alternative fuels could help ship operators reach net-zero emissions cost-effectively, further policy support is needed to strengthen the business case and ensure maritime decarbonization targets are met. While the engine technology to decarbonize existing vessels is increasingly available, the remaining challenge is aligning fuel economics and regulation with targeted emissions reductions.

The Switch has secured 13 orders for their electric machines (EM) busines since the beginning of June, covering almost 50 oceangoing vessels and 59 permanent magnet (PM) machines. July marked the company’s strongest month to date for marine EM orders.The surge comes as shipowners put greater emphasis on efficiency across the vessel, with optimization extending from ship design to individual equipment and power-system configurations. Tightening decarbonization requirements and fuel costs are strengthening the case for technologies that reduce energy consumption…

Bencros Marine Fenders, a Slovakia-based manufacturer of rubber fenders for ports, tugs and workboats, announced at the SMM Start-up Night in Hamburg that the CO2 savings embedded in its fenders are now independently verified and can be transferred to its customers as certified emission reductions. The first certificates go live on September 2, 2026 on the registry of carbon standard Proba.Bencros manufactures fenders from rejected rubber compounds sourced from tire factories and industrial rubber production, blended with rubber powder from grinded end-of-life tires.

Rather than pinning its decarbonization hopes on future tonnage, shipping can pursue its goals today by retrofitting available technology to existing, conventionally fueled vessels, explains David Sakandelidze, Business Manager for Energy and Efficiency, Berg Propulsion.The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target for net-zero emissions from ships by around 2050 is now only 24 years away—less than the average lifetime of a commercial ship. Today, 112,000 active vessels emit approximately 1.05 billion metric tons of combined annual emissions.

Hoppe Marine and AVL Analytical Technologies GmbH announce a strategic cooperation to introduce a new generation of Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) for the maritime industry.The cooperation combines Hoppe Marine’s expertise in maritime instrumentation and digital vessel solutions with AVL Analytical Technologies’ capabilities in emissions measurement technology and gas analysis expertise.The new CEMS portfolio includes two dedicated product lines: HOCEM GHG, supporting continuous greenhouse gas emissions measurement and reporting…

Wind propulsion will have its largest-ever presence at the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology (SMM) trade fair in September, underlining the rapid commercial expansion of one of shipping's fastest-growing decarbonization technology sectors.As shipowners seek practical solutions to reduce fuel consumption and comply with tightening emissions regulations, wind-assisted and primary wind propulsion technologies will be showcased across the exhibition halls in greater numbers than at any previous edition of the Hamburg-based maritime trade fair.Held September 1-4…

Marine fuel buyers entered 2026 facing a perfect storm, suffering some of the highest bunker prices ever experienced, paired with a sharp and concerning decline in fuel quality. Across the traditional marine fossil fuel supply chain, VPS has seen a marked rise in fuel quality issues, with the Middle East conflict playing a major role in driving both price volatility and quality deterioration. For ship owners/operators, the message is clear, today’s fuel market is not only more expensive, it is also becoming more complex and unpredictable, with a higher degree of operational risk.

ClassNK has joined a joint project to objectively verify reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions achieved in actual vessel operations through the use of an AI-based autonomous navigation system.In the maritime industry, various technologies aimed at reducing fuel consumption and GHG emissions are being developed and introduced. Voyage optimization technologies utilizing autonomous navigation systems and weather routing solutions are expected to contribute to improved operational efficiency and reduced fuel consumption.

Shipping lenders and investors risk repeating the mistakes made by Europe's electricity utilities and their financiers a decade ago, and the financial fallout could reach far beyond individual shipowners to lenders, investors, cargo owners and other supply-chain stakeholders, says UCL.The report, Lessons from electricity sector transitions and historic shipping collapses for understanding shipping stranded asset risks, by UCL Energy Institute's Shipping and Oceans Research Group…

Technology identification, trial and adoption is cornerstone to running an efficient, cost-effective maritime operation. But with the speed of technological change, particularly in regards to Artificial Intelligence (AI), the process is neither straight nor short. We visited recently with Kenji Togasaki, SVP, Innovation Office, IINO Lines (USA), who’s job it is with his IINO Lines team to scout new technologies and implement them onto the fleet with IINO technical group in Tokyo.

bound4blue has completed the installation of a 22-metre-high eSAIL onboard the newbuild multipurpose vessel Na Hiro E Pae, marking a milestone for both the vessel owner, Société de Navigation des Australes SNA Tuha'a Pae Shipping Company, and the wider adoption of wind propulsion technology.Multipurpose cargo vessels in French Polynesia are commonly known as “goelettes,” a reference to the schooners that historically supplied remote islands under sail. Na Hiro E Pae is the first known multipurpose vessel worldwide to adopt a wind propulsion system…

Anemoi Marine Technologies has secured design assessment certificates from Bureau Veritas covering several versions of its Rotor Sail wind-assisted propulsion technology, expanding third-party certification of its product range.The approvals cover the company's fixed and rail-deployed 3.5-metre by 24.5-metre Rotor Sails, including explosion-rated (EX-rated) versions and shorter variants designed for vessels operating under air draft restrictions. Applications are also being progressed…

Korean Register (KR) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have completed a sea trial of South Korea's first ammonia dual-fuel propulsion vessel as part of a government-backed initiative to support the development of ammonia-fueled shipping.The trial was conducted under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Green Shipping Corridor Construction Support Project, which aims to establish a domestic operating environment for ammonia-powered vessels.According to KR, the sea trial generated…

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) announced the publication of new guidelines to support companies in developing new Safety Management Systems (SMS) and strengthening existing SMS for ships using methanol as fuel. As the maritime industry accelerates its decarbonization efforts, low-carbon methanol has emerged as one of the most scalable alternative fuel options. Its liquid state under ambient conditions, compatibility with existing fuel infrastructure, and increasing industry adoption make methanol an attractive near-term solution.

In an age of regulatory shift, geopolitical uncertainty and commercial pressure it can be difficult to keep decarbonisation efforts on track. How can you plan for tomorrow when today’s realities are so demanding? With the theme of Nor-Shipping 2027 front of mind, Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, CEO Maritime at DNV, believes the NEXT thing shipping companies should address is also the most obvious. While a wide range of new fuels and technologies will ultimately drive shipping towards its ambitious goal of achieving net-zero by 2050…

Classification society ABS has reviewed bound4blue's methodology for calculating Pwind values used to quantify the contribution of the company's eSAIL suction sails toward compliance with maritime emissions regulations.The review covered the company's methodology for producing aerodynamic force matrices used in Pwind calculations for the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and FuelEU Maritime compliance.bound4blue said the methodology combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling…

Classification society ClassNK has introduced what it said is the world's first notation to indicate that greenhouse gas emissions generated during ship construction have been calculated and undergone third-party verification.The new notation, called ‘a-EA (CFP)’, has been added to ClassNK's Environmental Guidelines and is intended to help shipyards, shipowners and shipping companies demonstrate the environmental value of vessels and support disclosure of Scope 3 emissions.The…

Cavotec signed an order worth approximately EUR 1.5 million for shore power equipment for the expansion of a cruise terminal in Southern California.The shore power systems will enable cruise vessels to connect to the local electrical grid while at berth, helping to significantly reduce emissions and noise compared with running onboard engines.The order includes Cavotec's PowerMove, PowerFeed and PowerCover shore power technologies. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2027.

Australian mining company Fortescue has signed an agreement with Belgian shipping and cleantech group CMB.TECH to charter up to 12 ammonia-capable bulk carriers, stepping up efforts to decarbonize maritime transport and support the development of green ammonia as a marine fuel.Under the agreement, Fortescue will charter 12 Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels, each with a carrying capacity of 210,000 deadweight tonnes, from Bocimar, the dry bulk shipping arm of CMB.TECH.Up to three of the vessels will be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and are expected to enter service by the end of 2026…

Vessel electrification is no longer a future concept for offshore wind and policy and regulatory alignment is now the main barrier to uptake, a cross-industry panel hosted by Bibby Marine told an audience during Global Offshore Wind on Wednesday.Speakers from RenewableUK, Corvus Energy, Stillstrom, Tidal Transit and Kongsberg Maritime said rapid progress in vessel and charging technology means electrified vessels now represent an increasingly credible commercial proposition. They…

DNV has published a recommended practice (RP) providing a standardized framework for measuring and verifying the performance of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems on ships, setting the stage for further developing onboard captured carbon solutions and technologies. With around 90% of the operational fleet still dependent on fossil fuels, onboard carbon capture is emerging as a viable pathway to reduced emissions for vessels that cannot easily or economically transition to low-GHG fuels.

Geopolitical uncertainty, decarbonization, digitalization and new energy efficiency requirements are fundamentally reshaping the maritime industry. At the joint press conference for SMM 2026, MS&D Conference & Expo and ALL ABOUT PORTS, representatives from industry, shipping the port sector and maritime organizations discussed the key challenges and opportunities facing the future of the industry. While SMM puts the key future challenges facing the maritime industry centre stage, the MS&D Conference & Expo focuses on current issues in maritime security and defense.

International Car Operators (ICO), a member of Japan’s NYK Group, has started commercial operations at Belgium’s first shore power facility for roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels at the port of Zeebrugge.The facility entered service after a testing phase earlier this month, during which technical specifications were validated. The first vessel connected to the system was an NYK-operated pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).The project marks the first commercial use of shore power for…