Pathways to Sustainable Shipping

The American Bureau of Shipping developed the second in a series of "Outlook" documents — the first was published in June 2019 — to reference available carbon-reduction strategies and inform the shipping industry as it enters the uncharted waters of the 2030/2050 emissions challenge. This document examines how the development of global trade will impact global emissions. Furthermore, it identifies the three main fuel pathways on the course to meeting the IMO’s emission reduction targets for 2050 and beyond: light gas fuels, heavy gas fuels and bio/synthetic fuels. It also examines the possible capacity demand and related emissions output trends on a global basis to envision the environments in which those targets may need to be achieved. This information is offered solely to help provide industry stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions. The nearest challenges will require them to make choices between new fuels, energy sources and emissions control systems. It is offered as a tool to help shipowners understand the complexity of the task ahead and to move forward effectively as they assess their options for a transition to low-carbon operations, and further to the zero-carbon future of shipping.  Click here to view document