This joint initiative is a collaboration between the Global Maritime Forum, the Friends of Ocean action, and the World Economic Forum. The partnership is in line with the Call to Action in Support of Decarbonization launched in October 2018.

Katherine Palmer, the global head of sustainability for LR's Marine & Offshore business, reported that member states at IMO MEPC 72 adopted the so-called GHG initial strategy, envisaging, for the first time, a reduction in total GHG emissions from global shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. This was considered as a landmark for the industry, which seeks to align with the Paris Agreement goals. 

Keeping in mind that a vessel's life averages at about 25 years and the fuel infrastructure lasts for about 50 years, the Coalition aims to achieve this target by getting commercially viable, deep sea, zero emission vessels powered by zero emission fuels into operation by 2030.

Not only will IAPH have a crucial role in achieving a zero coalition aim, it also approves the UN Global Compact's Sustainable Ocean Principles at UN Climate Action Summit in New York. The announcement of the coalition was made in presence of IAPH, heads of state and government, Maersk's Chief Operating Officer Søren Toft and Port of Antwerp's Chief Executive Officer Jacques Vandermeiren.

Commenting on the joint announcement at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven

 The Getting to Zero Coalition provides the right platform and we are keen to play our part in promoting the availability of safe and reliable bunkering infrastructure in ports worldwide.

Moreover, in line with IAPH's World Ports Sustainability Program, the Clean Marine Fuels Audit Tool is used in ports to help the licensing process of bunker fuel operators. The aim is now to extend its easy-to-use, eight step auditing process from LNG to zero carbon fuels such as Hydrogen.

  • The ports of Aarhus, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Vancouver have already joined the Coalition.
  • Aligning with the UN Climate Action Summit, MAN Energy Solutions also informed that it took part in the new climate grouping. MAN Energy Solutions believes that the Getting to Zero Coalition’s is closely aligned with its strategy to cooperate with external partners to expand its business with sustainable technologies and solutions, in order to become its main source of revenue by 2030.
  • Wartsila announced its join, with Roger Holm, President, Marine Business commenting that Warstila  looks forward in co-creating a future all shipping stakeholders can be proud of, 'together'.
  • Similarly, ABS and the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) announced that they're also joining the coalition.
  • MISC Berhad (MISC) is another member in the coalition.
  • Class NK is taking part, noting that its GHG-reduction initiatives will further strengthen through participation in the Coalition.
  • Gard joins the initiative, with Gard’s CEO Rolf Thore Roppestad commenting 'as one of the world’s leading marine insurer, Gard joins the Getting to Zero Coalition to help the maritime industries mitigate their operational risks and its consequences following our shared goal to reduce emissions from vessels by 50 % within 2050.'
  • probunkers join the coalition, commenting that "we at probunkers, feel obliged to participate in paving this way through supporting the adoption of LNG as marine fuel ..."
  • Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) joined the Coalition, with Jae-Hoon Bae, President & CEO of HMM, commenting that “HMM’s carbon emission target is ambitious but achievable. Along with Getting to Zero Coalition, HMM expects to make a better contribution to overall industry in moving towards carbon neutrality."
  • Oldendorff Carriers.
  • The work is supported by industry stakeholders, as UCL Energy Institute, Environmental Defense Fund and the Energy Transitions Commission.

#Sustainable Ocean Principles of the UN Global Compact#

At the same time, at the UN Global Headquarters in New York, IAPH launched the Sustainable Ocean Principles of the UN Global Compact, which aspire to acknowledge how ocean industries can advance progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The platform is based on the ten principles of the UN Global Compact.

Concluding, addressing the need for balancing sustainable trade growth with a lower ocean logistics footprint, IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven stated

IAPH will do its utmost to support its members in building a critical mass of ports providing safe and commercially viable alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure along the main deep sea trade corridors...Collaboration will turn words into tangible action.