The recent COP29 conference has sparked mixed reactions. However, for the maritime sector, there are reasons for cautious optimism. James Forsdyke, Managing Director of LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, believes that the marine sector is making significant progress compared to other hard-to-abate industries, according to Llyod’s Register.
COP29 and Maritime Decarbonization
COP29 emphasized the need to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission fuels in the maritime industry. A significant milestone was the Call to Action signed by over 50 maritime leaders, aiming to achieve a 5-10% adoption rate for green fuels like ammonia and methanol by 2030. This aligns with the IMO’s push for decarbonization, and such initiatives are crucial to drive progress towards this target.
While a unified agreement on fossil fuel phase-outs was not reached, discussions on subsidies and accountability have gained momentum. These incremental steps are essential for shifting the narrative and paving the way for more decisive action.
Maritime Decarbonization Hub’s Role
The Maritime Decarbonization Hub has launched the Maritime Fuel Supply Dialogues to facilitate the adoption of zero-emission fuels. This initiative brings together various stakeholders, including ministries, fuel producers, shipowners, and financial institutions, to address the challenges in scaling up these fuels. The focus is on aligning supply and demand, developing necessary infrastructure, and creating supportive policies to ensure the availability and affordability of green hydrogen-derived fuels.
“The focus on green corridors and infrastructure aligns with the IMO’s push to accelerate decarbonization targets,” says Forsdyke. “The 5-10% adoption target by 2030 is now well established as a target tipping point, and initiatives like this one are essential to driving progress towards that target”
Justice and Equity in the Energy Transition
COP29 underscored the importance of ensuring justice and equity in the energy transition. Forsdyke emphasized the need to integrate safety and human-centric design into this transition. “Zero-emission fuels and technologies require updated training under the IMO’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention. Without this, we risk inefficiencies and safety concerns. But we must go further, embedding resilience and operability into Maritime’s safety culture to protect workers while maintaining social mobility,” Forsdyke explains.
Training and Safety
As zero-emission fuels and technologies emerge, there’s a critical need to update maritime training standards under the STCW Convention. This is essential to maintain efficiency and safety. Additionally, it’s crucial to embed resilience and operability into the maritime safety culture to protect workers and ensure social mobility.
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Source: Llyod’s Register
