At the ABS Sustainability Summit during London International Shipping Week, ABS chairman and chief executive Christopher Wiernicki urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to pause and reassess its decarbonisation roadmap.
With industry concerns rising over gaps in fuel readiness, infrastructure, and regulatory alignment, Wiernicki argued for a phased, precision-driven approach to maritime decarbonisation that balances ambition with practicality.
A Call for Systematic, Phased Strategy
Wiernicki likened the IMO’s regulatory process to shipbuilding, stressing it must be “systematic, explicit, specific and achievable.” He pointed out that the current Net-Zero Framework, due for a vote at the Marine Environment Protection Committee next month, risks misalignment with commercial realities. Instead, he called for a roadmap that protects transitional fuels, such as LNG and biofuels, while preparing the ground for zero-carbon fuels. His three-phase plan included:
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Protect the bridge: control methane slip and optimise LNG use.
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Extend the runway: enhance energy efficiency and deploy onboard carbon capture.
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Prepare for the endgame: develop nuclear and zero-carbon fuels beyond 2035.
Industry Pushback and Fuel Readiness Concerns
The ABS chief’s comments come as other leaders, including DNV Maritime CEO Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, express similar concerns about the IMO’s current approach. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has openly rejected the IMO’s draft framework, branding it a “global carbon tax on Americans.”
Wiernicki highlighted that emerging fuels such as ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, and nuclear face significant scalability and affordability challenges, making it risky to overlook transitional fuels already in use. He underscored the importance of aligning regulations with fuel economics, infrastructure availability, and safety considerations.
As he prepares to retire at the end of the year, Wiernicki’s intervention represents one of the strongest calls yet for the IMO to recalibrate its decarbonisation framework. His message is clear: the industry needs a phased, balanced, and realistic strategy that prioritises safety and leverages transitional fuels while building the foundations for a zero-carbon future. With the stakes high and timelines short, the next steps taken by regulators and industry leaders could shape the trajectory of maritime decarbonisation for generations to come.
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Source: Lloyd’s List
