Zero-Emission Shipping Mission

Our goal is to demonstrate commercially-viable zero-emission ships by 2030, making vessels that operate on zero-emission fuels the natural choice for ship owners when they renew their fleet.

International shipping transports the majority of the world’s goods and is responsible for 3% of global emissions, potentially increasing by half by 2050 on its current trajectory. To set international shipping on an ambitious zero-emission trajectory, we need commercially viable, zero-emission ocean-going vessels in the global fleet by 2030.

Co-leads

  • Denmark Flag Denmark
  • Norway Flag Norway
  • United States of America Flag United States
  • Global Maritime Forum
  • Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

THE PLAN

Coordinated innovation needs to take place across the entire maritime value chain, from the ships to the future zero-emission fuels they will rely on, and the infrastructure that will supply them. This will drive the sector to a tipping point in its transition to well-to-wake zero-emission fuels as soon as possible. The Mission will focus on the following three areas to achieve the goal:

Ships

Introduce fit-for-purpose and viable vessels that operate on zero-emission fuels to the global fleet so that by 2030, at least 200 ships primarily use zero-emission fuels across main deep sea shipping routes.

Innovation priorities:

  • Onboard vessel technologies including net-zero pilot fuels, fuel cell technology, emission measurements, fuel and engine flexibility, and bunkering.
  • Technological and commercial innovation to unlock the necessary investment decisions for the global fleet ahead of 2030.

Fuels

Scale up efficient production of zero-emission fuels so that by 2030, ships capable of running on hydrogen-based zero emission fuels and advanced biofuels make up at least 5% of the global deep-sea fleet measured by fuel consumption.

Innovation priorities:

  • Better conversion efficiencies of fuel feedstocks.
  • Low-cost, safe, efficient, and high volume storage.
  • Better integration of renewable power systems.
  • Ensuring adequate and sustainable supply of feedstocks.
  • For Hydrogen, improving the durability and reliability of PEM6 electrolyser equipment is critical for scaling production.

Fuelling Infrastructure

Establish global port infrastructure to support vessels operating on zero-emission fuels so that by 2030, 10 large trade ports covering at least three continents supply zero-emission fuels.

Innovation priorities:

  • Safety & operational risk management; novel approaches are needed to provide sufficient flexibility for ports to be able to plan for infrastructure investments whilst ensuring compatibility of systems between docking ships and port fueling equipment and power supplies.

The PROJECTS

The aim of the Blueprint for Future Ports program is to demonstrate what a commercially viable zero emission refuelling port of the future will look like and thus the program can be used as a tool-box for decision makers and investors to make the right choices that will provide zero-emission fuels and the needed infrastructure at key ports along the major deep-sea shipping routes. Some of the concrete project are shown below.

Green Corridors and Ports Network

To assess zero-emission fuel readiness at ports, mapping existing refuelling networks, as well as fuel demand at selected ports to identify the best matched ports for Green Corridor development globally.

Port Connections

To gain knowledge on and assist with establishing accessible and reliable fuel production and bunkering across the global shipping lanes.

Blueprint for Future Ports

To provide the Blueprint to demonstrate what a fully operational and commercially ready Zero Emission refueling port along a Green Corridor would look like in the 2030s.