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Fuelre4m on IMO Net-Zero Framework: ‘A tax game disguised as climate policy’

‘Washington’s stance may appear confrontational, but it exposes a legitimate concern. This is as much about control of markets and financial flows as it is about reducing emissions,’ says Rob Mortimer, MD.

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Rob Mortimer, Managing Director of Dubai-based clean-fuel technology firm Fuelre4m, on Tuesday (23 September) shared his thoughts on IMO’s Net-Zero Framework: 

The US warning countries to reject the IMO’s so-called Net Zero shipping deal or face tariffs sounds brutal on the surface. But look a little deeper and you can see why Washington might be pushing back. 

This isn’t a fight about saving the planet. It is about who controls the cash and who sets the rules.

The IMO’s proposal looks like climate policy, but in practice it functions more like a global tax system. What shipping needs is meaningful decarbonisation, not another round of carbon-credit schemes and subsidies that deliver little change at sea.

The IMO’s framework relies heavily on new funds, subsidies, and carbon-trading mechanisms. The US position is that these approaches risk funnelling advantages toward large fuel suppliers and well-capitalised shipowners, while leaving smaller operators and developing nations exposed. At the same time, the emphasis on unproven technologies such as large-scale carbon capture fails to deliver immediate reductions in emissions.

Decarbonisation is an operational challenge, not an accounting exercise. If the industry continues to focus on financial engineering instead of practical solutions, we will lose sight of the original goal of cutting carbon from ships.

The recent U.S. pushback against the IMO deal, including threats of tariffs, highlights the geopolitical stakes. Washington’s stance may appear confrontational, but it exposes a legitimate concern. This is as much about control of markets and financial flows as it is about reducing emissions.

With shipping responsible for around three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, there is urgency of adopting practical, scalable solutions. We already have tools that work, from route optimisation and slow steaming to cleaner propulsion systems and advanced fuels. Regulators must focus on measures that can be deployed today and ensure that decarbonisation is accessible across the entire industry, not just the top tier of shipowners.

At FuelRe4m, we believe regulators must refocus on policies that deliver genuine emissions cuts and make decarbonisation accessible across the industry. Until the conversation shifts back to real-world solutions at sea, the push for net zero will remain more slogan than strategy.

 

Photo credit: Fuelre4m
Published: 24 September, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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