Maersk and China Classification Society (CCS) will start a major project to drive decarbonisation in the shipping industry after signing an agreement in Beijing.
The framework agreement will kickstart research between Chinese and European enterprises and institutions aiming to speed up decarbonisation in shipping.
Mo Jianhui, CCS Chairman and President, commented:
By joining hands with Maersk, I believe we can develop the right set of standards, rules, and technical solutions for the benefit of the whole industry. We believe that open-minded discussions and trusted partnerships are key to make that happen, which will also contribute to China’s ambition of realizing the pledge of reaching peak emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060
On his behalf, Ambassador Thomas Østrup Møller, stated that maritime decarbonisation can only be achieved successfully through strong international cooperation and exchange of knowledge. For this reason, new technologies need to be developed in order to ensure carbon neutrality.
Continuing, Mr. Jianhui added that the agreement will see in-depth research undertaken on feasible decarbonisation pathways, innovative technologies and different ship types focusing on the direction of future energy development.
Three expert groups will be established to conduct research on risk assessment and regulation development, life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and the sustainability and availability of marine alternative fuels examining the development of methanol and ammonia fueled container ships. Where appropriate, the participants will jointly apply for Sino-Danish inter-governmental science and technology innovation cooperation project.
Maersk is currently committed to proactively exploring feasible solutions for emission reduction of ships engaging in international voyages, and is seeking to develop and apply new propulsion technologies and carbon-neutral fuels for ships.
CCS is also working together with the industry to study and explore the pathways to carbon emissions peak and neutrality, making rapid progress on innovative technologies for shipping GHG emission reduction.
Finally, all participating parties agreed that collaboration is key to the decision-making process of researching low and zero-carbon energy used in shipping.
