Zero-Emission Shipping

The Challenge:  International shipping transports the majority of the world’s goods and is responsible for 3% of global emissions, potentially increasing by half by 2050 on its current trajectory. To set international shipping on an ambitious zero emission trajectory, we need commercially viable, zero-emission ocean-going vessels in the global fleet by 2030.

The Goal: For ships capable of running on zero-emission fuels to make up at least 5% of the global deep-sea fleet by 2030.

The Mission: We will crystalize an ambitious alliance between countries, the private sector, research institutes and civil society to develop, demonstrate, and deploy zero-emission fuels, ships, and fuel infrastructure together by 2030 and make zero-emission ocean going shipping the natural choice for ship owners.

News

 

  • [March 2024] Are you in Singapore on 15th of April 2024? Then we are thrilled to invite you to an event at Singapore Maritime Week 2024 on Zero-Emission Shipping Mission: How international public-private collaboration accelerates the green maritime transition. Register here and view the event program here.
  • [June 17, 2022] Just Released: May 2022 Zero Emission Shipping Newsletter
  • [April 4, 2022]  Zero Emission Shipping Industry Roadmap.
  • [November 8, 2021] Innovation Needs for Decarbonization of Shipping, Executive Summary, Extended Summary, and Technical Report.
  • [June 2, 2021] The “Zero Emission Shipping” Mission was announced at the Sixth Mission Innovation Ministerial. Read our joint statement for more information.

 

Co-leads: Denmark  United States Norway

  • Denmark (Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • The United States (U.S. Department of Energy)
  • Norway (Ministry of Climate and Environment)
  • Global Maritime Forum (representing the Getting to Zero Coalition)
  • Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

 

Core Mission Members:

  • Morocco (Ministry of Energy Transition & Sustainable Development)
  • The United Kingdom (Department for Transport)
  • India (Ministry of Science and Technology)
  • Singapore (Maritime and Ports Authority)

 

Mission Support Group:

  • France (Ministry of the Sea)
  • Ghana (Ghana Maritime Authority)
  • South Korea (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)

The Mission

The Zero-Emission Shipping Mission will demonstrate commercially-viable zero-emission ships by 2030, making vessels that operate on zero-emission fuels the natural choice for ship owners when they renew their fleet.

  • By 2030, at least 5% of the global deep-sea fleet measured by fuel consumption to be made of ships capable of running on well-to-wake zero-emission fuels – such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and advanced biofuels.
  • By 2030, at least 200 of these ships to primarily use these fuels across the main deep sea shipping routes. This will lay the foundation for increasing numbers in the following years towards a zero-emission shipping future.

We will focus on the entire value chain: the ship, the fuel production, and the fuel infrastructure to drive the sector to a tipping point in its transition. We aim to introduce practicable and viable vessels that operate on zero-emission fuels to the global fleet; scale up efficient production of zero-emission fuels; and establish global port infrastructure to support vessels operating on zero-emission fuels.

An analysis for the Getting to Zero Coalition estimated that achieving long-term decarbonization objectives would require that zero-emission fuels make up 5% of the international fuel mix by 2030. To achieve this, zero-emission fuels will have to displace more than 15 million tonnes of Heavy Fuel Oil equivalent. Depending on the fuel mix, this could require, for example, 60 GW of electrolyzers producing green hydrogen for marine fuels. Read more here.

 

The Mission Coalition

We are bringing together a dynamic and delivery-focused high ambition alliance between countries, the private sector, research institutes and civil society that seeks to make innovation progress fast enough to demonstrate zero-emission deep sea shipping in practice by 2030.

Together, the members will:

  • Focus on the entire value chain: the ship, the fuel production, and the fuel infrastructure, driving the sector to a tipping point in its transition to well-to-wake zero-emission fuels as soon as possible.
  • Increase engagement with the private sector to link up decarbonisation efforts across the value chain and promote/facilitate public-private partnerships.
  • Increase international exchanges and sharing of best practices, including sharing domestic efforts on innovation for zero-emission shipping (e.g. policies, programmes, and public-private partnerships).
  • Engage in research, development, and demonstration activities that will help accelerate commercial readiness of maritime and energy technologies, paving the way for well-to-wake zero-emission vessels.

 

In addition, each member will work to develop:

  • Joint innovation activities with other members, such as shared research projects, and joint calls and programmes.
  • Joint demonstration projects for commercial-scale deep-sea vessels running on zero-emission fuels.
  •  ‘Green corridors’ that provide policy and infrastructure mechanisms to enable first movers in zero-emission shipping.

“In Denmark, we believe a greener future is possible – if we work together. As one of the world’s largest maritime nations, Denmark has initiated the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission, with great partners from the public and the private sector from all over the world. Our common goal is to make zero-emission vessels the natural choice for ship owners when they renew their fleet.”

Simon Kollerup, Danish Minister for Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs


“The decarbonization of shipping will result in a growing global demand for climate technology in the years ahead. Norway’s and other countries leading position in green shipping can become an important competitive advantage, giving the maritime industry huge growth potential in international markets.”

Sveinung Rotevatn, Norwegian Minister for Climate and Environment


“Through fearless technological innovation, ambitious clean energy deployment, and constructive international collaboration, we can build a net-zero carbon economy that creates millions of jobs and lifts our citizens into greater prosperity.”

Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy


“Shipping is on the verge of a clean energy revolution. To set the global maritime industry on a climate-aligned course and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, zero-emission vessels need to be the dominant and competitive choice by the end of this decade. The Zero-Emission Shipping Mission will accelerate public and private efforts around the world to make a zero emission fleet a reality by 2030.”

Johannah Christensen, Managing Director of the Global Maritime Forum


“The shipping industry needs to decarbonize to be part of the solution to the climate crisis. It will not be easy, and we don’t have a lot of time, but it is possible and now is the time to act. The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping is all about accelerating the transition by finding solutions through collaboration with partners across the ecosystem. With our partners we are proud and excited to co-lead this very important Zero Emission Shipping Mission.”

Bo Cerup-Simonsen, Chief Executive Officer of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping


Contact Us:

Zero Emission Shipping Mission: shippingmission@dma.dk