The DNV-led Nordic Roadmap project has unveiled the Fuel Transition Roadmap for Nordic Shipping, a comprehensive document outlining a decarbonization strategy for the region.

According to the classification society, the report urged Nordic ministers to take immediate action to support the industry in achieving its goals by closing the cost gap associated with the fuel transition. 

Its findings and recommendations were officially presented to Nordic ministers today at a High-Level Conference on Green Shipping in the Nordic Region, held in Copenhagen.

Alongside their commitment to global maritime emission reduction targets set by the IMO, the Nordic countries have also pledged to meet ambitious regional climate targets for shipping. 

These include early commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050, advancing a sustainable ocean economy and green transition, cooperation on transport, infrastructure and energy supply, and the establishment of green shipping corridors.

To decarbonize, shipping will need to switch to zero-emission fuels and the Roadmap strategy identified three main barriers to their uptake in the region:

• Demand and costs – linked to the lack of demand for zero-emission shipping and cost-competitiveness of zero-emission fuels. 
• Fuel availability – referring to the lack of onshore development of the supply chain, including fuel production and sourcing of raw materials, distribution, and bunkering infrastructure. 
• Technology and safety – referring to the low maturity level of fuel technologies and safety regulations, both onshore and onboard vessels.

The report goes on to outline seven building blocks, broken down further into 20 specific actions to be taken towards 2030, to overcome the interlinked barriers. These represent specific work packages that governments and industry stakeholders must collaborate and work on in parallel to upscale the use of zero-emission fuels. 

The key recommendations of the Roadmap highlight the urgent need for government action to bridge the cost gap for zero-emission fuels and to accelerate the implementation of competitive tenders for green shipping corridors. The strategy envisions the first corridor becoming operational by 2025, followed by three more by 2026, and an additional six by the end of 2028. An immediate priority is to develop a plan for the regional integration of fuel production and infrastructure. 

Ms. Ida Heimann Larsen, Deputy Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, said: “The Nordic Council of Ministers is proud to have helped bring about this comprehensive and ambitious public-private cooperation.”

“And we will continue to support the advancement of the 7 key building blocks of the Road Map as part of a wider, cross-sectoral focus on the green transition of our blue economy. These are important stepping stones on our path towards making the Nordic region the most sustainable in the world.”

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime, DNV, said: “We call on Nordic governments to act swiftly on the urgent measures identified in the Fuel Transition Roadmap for Nordic Shipping. Doing so will give the industry confidence to invest in ships capable of running on zero-emission fuels, and the fuel infrastructure needed to support them.”

“Cross border and value chain collaboration will be crucial in enabling the industry to overcome key barriers and to meet the ambitious decarbonization targets. By leading the way, the Nordics can not only drive value creation and boost exports but can also play a key role in the global fuel transition.”

Bjarne Foldager, Senior Vice President and Head of Two-Stroke Business, Denmark, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “This Roadmap is a worthy initiative and, in tandem with other global decarbonisation efforts, represents a concrete way for Nordic shipping to collaborate and push decarbonisation through – among other parameters – the adoption of zero-emission fuels and green corridors.”

“At MAN Energy Solutions, we welcome the opportunity to work with like-minded partners and are more than happy to bring our expertise within marine propulsion and alternative fuels to the table in the pursuit of net zero.”

The Roadmap is developed by the project team led by DNV with members from MAN Energy Solutions, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Chalmers University of Technology, Menon Economics, and Litehauz, and in collaboration with more than 60 industry partners.

The Nordic Roadmap project started in 2022 and is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It aims to reduce key barriers to the uptake of zero-emission fuels and develop a common roadmap for the whole Nordic region towards zero-emission shipping.

Note: The full strategy can be read here.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 5 December, 2024

Maritime technology company Spinergie on Tuesday (26 November) announced a strategic partnership with Veracity, the maritime emissions data cloud from DNV. 

Together, they offer clients a comprehensive, automated system for collecting, processing, and verifying emissions data.

The partnership will integrate Spinergie’s Smart Fleet Management solution with the Veracity platform and connect Spinergie’s Smart Reporting module with DNV’s Emissions Connect. Smart Reporting collects data via multiple sources, including sensors, GPS/AIS, and manual entry. 

Crucially, Spinergie’s in-built mechanisms ensure the quality of ship data. By connecting with Emissions Connect through Veracity, this data can be directly verified, ensuring compliance with the IMO DCS, EU MRV, and FuelEU Maritime regulations.

Spinergie’s client, SMT Shipping has selected the partnership to streamline its data management processes and ensure regulatory compliance. SMT Shipping benefits from a suite of tools tailored to make their operations more efficient. 

These include simplified and guided manual data entry, reinforced with automatic population and robust quality checks. Quality checks at the reporting source reduce the need for a back-and-forth between the verifier and SMT’s crews, making significant time savings.

Further time savings are achieved through single-entry data, with multiple reports generated from a centralized dataset and automatically exported to relevant internal and external stakeholders as required.

"Through Spinergie’s Smart Fleet Management solution, SMT Shipping has taken steps to significantly reduce the administrative burden of our crews and office staff. This system allows the seamless reporting of consumption and emissions data to regulatory bodies, and most importantly gives SMT the great benefit of a platform to access all operational and technical details about our voyages and vessels,” said Joep Groot, Business Optimization & Projects, SMT Shipping.

"Veracity’s partnership with Spinergie enhances our ability to support maritime clients in their journey towards sustainability. By providing seamless access to verified emissions data, we empower companies like SMT Shipping to efficiently bring trust into their emissions data and adhere to stringent environmental regulations," said Mikkel Skou, Executive Director for Veracity by DNV.

"Our partnership with Veracity by DNV aligns with our mission to provide clients with the tools to reduce the reporting and admin workload of crews and office staff. Together, we offer a solution that simplifies emissions data management and helps shipping companies achieve their sustainability goals,” added Jean Cristofari, CEO and Co-Founder of Spinergie.

The collaboration between Spinergie and Veracity by DNV is a significant step in adopting digital technologies and data standardization in the maritime sector. The partnership will help clients, including SMT Shipping, achieve peak efficiency and improve environmental performance through real-time, verified emissions data.

Photo credit: Spinergie
Published: 28 November, 2024

Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd. (MOL) on Tuesday (26 November) announced it signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to deepen cooperation in the fields of decarbonisation, digitalisation, and human resources development including alternative bunker fuels. 

MOL and MPA have been cooperating in various initiatives to decarbonise the maritime industry, the new agreement will further promote these initiatives in a wide range of fields.

Specifically, the scope of the MoU covers the following: 

• Collaboration in the field of decarbonisation in the maritime industry in general.

Mutual collaboration to establish a supply system for next-generation alternative bunker fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. The collaboration will also include study on the use of wind technology.

• Digitalisation and maritime innovation.

Improving voyage management and efficiency of transport operations through digitalisation, including development of cybersecurity, collaboration on autonomous vessel trials, and nurturing marine innovation ecosystem that emphasises collaboration with local startups.

• Joint development of maritime human resources.

Grow and enhance manpower capabilities, including grooming seafarers and shore-based workforce.

MOL will continue its group-wide concerted effort, in close cooperation with MPA and other major maritime sectors, to achieve sustainable GHG net-zero emissions and contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society.

MPA Chief Executive Teo Eng Dih, said: “This MoU reaffirms MPA and MOL’s longstanding collaboration. As a maritime hub port, supported by our innovation and research ecosystem, MPA is working closely with industry and tripartite partners to support digitalisation, cybersecurity, decarbonisation and manpower capabilities. We look forward to MOL’s expansion of activities, tapping on both our experience and expertise, to develop scalable solutions for the SingaporeJapan Green and Digital Shipping Corridor and the wider maritime community.”

MOL President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto, said: “We have been focusing on the fields of decarbonisation, digitalisation, and human resources development, which we have decided to deepen cooperation with MPA this time.

MPA is committed to working hard to create a sustainable maritime industry in Singapore, the hub of the maritime industry. We pay our respect to MPA for its enthusiasm and energy. The fields of bilateral cooperation are also a challenge for the maritime industry as a whole, and I hope we can increase the feasibility by working together as like-minded people.

We are confident that the establishment of this comprehensive cooperative relationship will contribute to the maritime industry in general.”

MOL’s recent cooperation with MPA includes joining a MPA-led Green & Digital Shipping Corridors (GDSC) and joining MPA’s initiative in the Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF) to promote training for seafarers involved in next-generation fuel such as ammonia, which reduces carbon emissions.

Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 27 November, 2024