Decarbonization is More Than a Story of CO2 Emissions Per Ton Mile

(HOUSTON) Shipping and governments everywhere have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to revitalize national maritime strategy and construct the assets and infrastructure required to reach net zero through the Energy Transition at Sea.

According to ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wernicke, there is a strong correlation between maritime decarbonization and national maritime strategy, national security, and employment growth.

The story of decarbonization goes beyond CO2 emissions per tone. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to relaunch shipbuilding, restore port infrastructure, revitalize national marine plans, and generate jobs. According to Wernicke, decarbonization is starting to affect global maritime policy and presents an opportunity for national maritime policies to be renewed, acknowledging shipping as a vital component of national security.

There are three tales, centered on three pillars, that are crucial to every nation in this era of generational transition. These two narratives—shipping for shipping, which represents the decarbonization of our sector—highlight the critical role that shipping plays in facilitating the worldwide shift to green energy, particularly in terms of transporting liquid CO2 and future fuels. The last and most important category is shipping for national security, which focuses on the interface between the ship and the port as well as the revolutionary potential of green shipping corridors and marine hubs for renewable energy.

“The potential of shipping to connect the three pillars of national security, economics, and environmental initiatives sets it apart. Countries are reevaluating their economic, climate, and security goals as maritime decarbonization ushers in a new era of national maritime strategies. Shipping needs to be at the forefront of the conversation about how to strike a balance between these strategies and the demands of the energy transition. The need for more robust, integrated national marine policies that have high levels of industry and government alignment should be our main priority.

He urged government teams tasked with developing maritime strategies to make the most of industry knowledge in order to create workable and efficient policies. ABS is leading the charge in fostering international collaboration between governments and businesses.

The time has come for businesses to interact with the government organizations that are working quickly to build these plans. Additionally, in order to adopt sensible and successful policy and action to take advantage of the opportunity, the government must fully utilize the experience and insight of the industry, he said.