In recent years, momentum towards zero-emission shipping has been building, with maritime leaders pioneering zero-emission technologies and calling for regulatory frameworks.

As members of the newly formed Future Maritime Leaders Network, we are deeply invested in improving the maritime industry for the workforce of tomorrow. To that end, we have identified three needs that we believe require the focused attention and action of today’s industry leaders.

This year’s essay competition asked young people from across the globe to reflect on what an inclusive transition to a sustainable maritime industry means to them. Vladimir Zorić from Montenegrin proposes the Worldwide Crew Pool (WCP) to build a collaborative way of working amongst different companies and stakeholders through a centralised system that would manage Fleet Personnel processes of all shipping companies under a single umbrella, while minimising the impact from carbon emissions. This would happen through the establishment of crewing and training centers worldwide, which would particularly benefit developing countries, while at the same time aiming to decrease the usage of air travel.

This year’s essay competition asked young people from across the globe to reflect on what an inclusive transition to a sustainable maritime industry means to them. Japanese essay competition winner Saki Inoue argues for 3 main points which can support the sustainable revolution: seafarers as sustainability boosters, maritime education and training reform, and additional support for developing countries.

This year’s essay competition asked young people from across the globe to reflect on what an inclusive transition to a sustainable maritime industry means to them. One of this year’s winners is Shareefa Jewan from Mauritiana. Her essay explores gender discrimination against females as a global challenge facing the maritime industry. Through personal reflections on the topic and backed by a thorough review of existing academic literature, the root causes behind this issue are dissected.

Colombia stands to benefit from international shipping’s shift to scalable zero-emission fuels due to its low potential cost for producing green hydrogen, access to two oceans and ability to leverage renewable energy resources. Although projects focusing on green hydrogen are already emerging in the country, few of these relate to zero-carbon marine fuels, which puts Colombia at risk of missing out on a major growth opportunity.

The success of green shipping corridors hinges on focused, timely, and transformative policy action by national governments.

Last week, Member States of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted the revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy. The Strategy is an important milestone for the industry as it builds confidence in the transition by clearly indicating that a shift to zero-emission fuels is required at scale, starting now.

Today, in London, the IMO adopted a revised GHG strategy which aims to reach net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, a remarkable improvement compared to the initial strategy adopted in 2018.

The revision of the initial GHG Strategy will have significant implications for the industry at large, sending critical market signals on what path international shipping will take as it seeks to decarbonize and address its climate emissions. Lobbyists and negotiators alike have been hard at work in the months prior, submitting proposals and gaining allies to back key positions. This insight brief covers the four key elements that will need to be settled before the revised strategy is adopted at MEPC 80.