A joint study by the Responsible Shipping Initiative (RSI) and DNV, co-funded by the Swedish Transport Administration, has revealed that while Swedish cargo owners are eager to align with the IMO 2050 decarbonization targets, the short sea dry bulk fleet faces significant hurdles.
The ageing fleet, small vessel size, and lack of economic and regulatory incentives are limiting investment in low-emission ships, leaving cargo owners struggling to secure sustainable transport capacity for the future.
Ageing Fleet and Regulatory Gaps
Europe’s short sea general cargo vessels are rapidly approaching the end of their operational life, with few replacements on order. Many of these ships are under 5,000 GT, exempting them from the stricter emissions regulations that drive innovation in larger vessels.
Without these regulatory pressures, shipowners have little incentive to invest in greener designs, despite growing climate commitments from cargo owners such as EFO AB, Lantmännen, SSAB, Stockholm Exergi, and Södra.
Study Insights and Green Premium Challenge
The study was conducted in three work packages:
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WP1 established emissions baselines using AIS-based modeling to identify high-impact cargo segments for green renewal.
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WP2 calculated the “green premium” of using e-methanol over marine gas oil and explored cost-reduction measures, including government subsidies and operational efficiencies.
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WP3 modeled the pace of fleet renewal required to meet climate goals and compared it to alternative strategies such as biofuel blending and efficiency improvements.
Both RSI and DNV stressed the importance of turning long-term decarbonization ambitions into actionable short-term contracting targets, enabling investment planning and compliance readiness.
The study underscores a strategic crossroads for Sweden’s short sea shipping sector: without coordinated incentives, clear contractual frameworks, and knowledge-sharing between cargo owners and shipowners, green fleet renewal may lag far behind climate targets. RSI and DNV’s collaborative work offers a roadmap for bridging this gap—ensuring sustainable shipping capacity while maintaining operational viability.
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Source: DNV
