- GCMD and INTERCARGO have entered a two-year partnership to support energy transition efforts in the dry bulk sector.
- The collaboration focuses on promoting energy efficiency technologies and low-/zero-carbon solutions tailored to the unique challenges of tramp trade operations.
- GCMD will leverage data-driven pilots and financing models like Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS), while INTERCARGO offers operational insight and global advocacy through its IMO engagement.
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has signed a two-year Coalition partnership agreement with the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) to accelerate decarbonisation in the dry bulk segment—currently the world’s largest shipping sector by tonnage. The initiative brings together GCMD’s technical capabilities in piloting and validating decarbonisation solutions with INTERCARGO’s broad industry reach and regulatory influence through its consultative status at the IMO.
Addressing Dry Bulk’s Operational Complexities
Dry bulk vessels, accounting for 42.7% of the world’s oceangoing fleet by deadweight tonnage, often operate on tramp trades with irregular routes. This makes it difficult to access bunkering ports offering zero- or near-zero-emission (ZNZ) fuels, given the limited infrastructure. While long-term fuel transition efforts continue, this partnership aims to enable more immediate decarbonisation steps, including the use of drop-in biofuels, onboard carbon capture, and energy efficiency technologies (EETs).
Promoting Technology Uptake and Financial Innovation
A key goal of the partnership is to boost EET adoption among dry bulk owners, many of whom are small or medium-sized companies facing uncertainty around fuel savings and limited financing options. GCMD is deploying onboard sensors to validate efficiency gains, supporting the rollout of its Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) model that links repayments to proven savings. This model is expected to lower entry barriers and de-risk investment in sustainable technologies.
Leveraging Combined Expertise for Scalable Impact
Through this collaboration, GCMD and INTERCARGO will facilitate mutual knowledge-sharing and support dry bulk shipowners in transitioning toward low-carbon operations. GCMD CEO Prof. Lynn Loo emphasized the importance of understanding dry bulk realities to close adoption gaps, while INTERCARGO Technical Committee Chairman Mr. Dimitris Monioudis reaffirmed the association’s commitment to ensuring that scalable, practical solutions are accessible to all operators—particularly those moving the majority of global cargo.
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Source: GCMD
