Decarbonizing the Maritime Industry: Key solutions and strategies

With growing international pressure to reduce emissions and slow down the effects of global warming and climate change, the maritime industry is stepping up its decarbonization efforts. Targets have become more ambitious and regulations more stringent, and it is now clear to stakeholders across shipping’s value chain that action needs to be taken today to reduce emissions.

Setting Sail for a Greener Future: IMO’s Ambitious 2050 Goal

Although shipping’s quest for decarbonization is expected to be long and difficult, goals have been set, and the journey has begun. At MEPC 80 in June 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed on a set of ambitious targets, including full decarbonization around 2050. Delegates also agreed to stepped targets along the way: a 20% reduction in emissions by 2030, and a 70% reduction by 2040, compared in each case with emissions in 2008.

EU Regulations Put Additional Squeeze on Shipping Emissions

In the EU, apart from the targets, the impact of non-compliance has also been defined. In 2024, the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was extended to shipping, putting a price on carbon emissions. In 2025, this has been followed by the EU’s FuelEU Maritime regulation, which will set wellto-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity requirements on energy used on board vessels over 5,000 GT trading in the EU, with financial penalties for non-compliance. Coupled with pressure from cargo owners, and society at large, shipowners are now faced with the task of delivering real emissions reductions today. The clock is ticking and all decarbonization options need to be explored.

The Ultimate Decarbonization Playbook: A Deep Dive into DNV’s Energy-Efficiency Report

As detailed by DNV, carbon-neutral fuels are currently in short supply, with considerable effort to overcome the challenge being made by various stakeholders. The maritime industry, therefore, needs to explore all available technological and operational options which can deliver emission reductions, starting with energy efficiency. These technologies and the improvement of energy efficiency on board can help reduce emissions in the short term while acting as a great enabler for faster adoption of low-carbon fuels in the long term.

DNV’s report, Energy Efficiency Measures and Technologies – Key solutions and strategies for maritime’s decarbonization journey, provides a comprehensive overview of more than 40 energy-efficiency measures, detailing their fuel-saving effects, cost figures, and suitability for specific ship types. It highlights how these measures can help shipowners meet short- and mid-term regulatory requirements, gain a competitive edge, and ensure profitable operations well into the 2030s and 2040s.