In the auspices of the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission, the Danish Maritime Authority has conducted a study on ‘Mapping Global Financial Support Opportunities for Zero-Emission and Energy-Efficient Ships’. Many shipping companies postpone investments in new-build dual fuel vessels and energy efficiency improvements despite technological readiness. One of the reasons for this is the high costs of conventional loans. With the identification of more than 70 funding opportunities, this study seeks to provide ship owners at a global scale with an overview over financial support and guarantee opportunities for investments in new builds, retrofitting and/or energy efficiency improvements. The study can also provide governments with an overview of existing green ship funding opportunities.
Main findings
The study shows that various types of funding options exist for ship owners, including grants, guarantees and loans from regional development banks. Some of these appeal directly to the maritime sector while others have a broader target group. Furthermore, the mapping reveals that while funding opportunities exist across the globe, the vast majority of these are in the Europe and the US while options in especially Africa and Latin America are scarce. Lastly, the study’s deep-dives highlight that application requirements, notably for loans from regional development banks, are often complex and require government involvement.
Facts on the study
The study is available at the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission website. The study consists of a report done in an illustrative Power Point format, and an Excel sheet that dives into the specifics of the funding opportunities and provides direct access through URLs. The study is a one-time mapping. It is noted, that since financing for maritime investments from conventional bank loans are very costly for ship owners, this type of loan is not a part of the study. The study serves as a supplement to existing mappings and portals, such as the EU Commission’s Ship Financing Portal, launched in August 2024.
For further information, please contact the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission by e-mail: shippingmission@dma.dk.