- MBF and ZESTAs signed an MOU to promote zero-emission shipping, board Hydromover, Singapore’s first electric cargo vessel.
- The partnership focuses on battery-powered solutions, knowledge sharing, and advocacy for maritime decarbonization.
- It aligns with IMO discussions on fuel standards, emissions levies, and carbon regulations.
The Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) and the Zero Emission Shipping Technology Association (ZESTA) have signed an MOU to enhance collaboration in advancing zero-emission shipping technologies. The signing ceremony took place aboard Yinson GreenTech’s Hydromover—Singapore’s first fully electric cargo vessel—on March 27, 2025, according to Offshore Energy.
The agreement marks a milestone in the industry’s collective push toward decarbonization, bringing together MBF’s focus on battery-powered maritime solutions and ZESTAs’ leadership in zero-emission advocacy. By fostering innovation and collaboration among their members, both organizations aim to accelerate the transition to clean energy solutions in the maritime sector.
A Framework for Collaboration and Innovation
The MOU outlines joint initiatives for knowledge sharing, advocacy, and industry-wide cooperation, with MBF and ZESTAs working together to promote electrification as a key pathway to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in shipping. Their collaboration focuses on exchanging technical and market insights, advancing sustainable development in the port and maritime sectors, and enhancing cooperation through joint projects and advocacy efforts.
Syb Ten Cate Hoedemaker, Managing Director of the Maritime Battery Forum, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating:
“This partnership with ZESTAs represents a powerful alignment of our missions to drive the maritime industry toward a sustainable future. By combining our expertise in battery technology with ZESTAs’ leadership in zero-emission advocacy, we can accelerate the transition to cleaner, more efficient shipping solutions.”
Madadh MacLaine, Secretary-General of ZESTAs, also highlighted the critical role of battery technology in achieving decarbonization, stating:
“An absolute zero emissions vessel is an electric vessel. Batteries and energy storage systems are fundamental to achieving the International Maritime Organization’s GHG strategy. Formalising what has always been a positive relationship between our organisations will allow us to increase the breadth and speed of our combined impact.”
Collaboration Amid IMO Decarbonization Talks
The partnership announcement aligns with ongoing high-level discussions at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where delegates are debating key measures to reduce shipping’s environmental impact, including a global fuel standard to regulate marine fuel carbon footprints, a greenhouse gas levy to encourage cleaner energy adoption, and the IMO’s carbon intensity indicator (CII) to assess and improve ship efficiency.
By aligning their efforts through this MOU, MBF and ZESTAs contribute to the broader industry shift toward sustainable shipping, supporting the global mission to slash greenhouse gas emissions and enhance environmental performance.
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Source: Offshore Energy
