The Quest for Nothingness

The global maritime industry is racing to cut emissions with solutions ranging from cutting-edge tech to, well… sails. Yes, we’ve come full circle. The same technology that powered pirates is now hailed as the future of sustainable shipping. What a time to be alive!

While we await warp drives and fusion reactors, the industry juggles alternative fuels – methanol, ammonia, hydrogen – plus hybrid propulsion, carbon capture and electrification. Regulations tighten the noose: IMO 2023 introduced energy efficiency rules; the EU ETS expanded to maritime in 2024, tripling compliance costs by 2030, and FuelEU Maritime kicked in this year with strict emissions targets.

The IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy aims for net-zero by 2050 with milestones along the way: 20 percent reduction by 2030 and 70 percent by 2040. Mid-term measures are due by 2027, following key meetings this year.

The race is on – powered by wind, data and just a dash of regulatory panic.

“GO GREEN, SAVE SOME GREEN”

The Liberian Registry (LISCR), the world’s largest ship registry by gross tonnage, is deeply embedded in the maritime industry’s efforts to meet decarbonization targets. Thomas Klenum, Executive Vice President of Innovation & Regulatory Affairs, sheds light on how the registry adapts to the decarbonization challenge.

“Our goal is to accelerate the transition to net-zero by 2050, embrace innovation and apply new IMO regulatory frameworks,” he says, referencing the launch of LISCR’s Innovation and Energy Transition Team in 2024. The team collaborates directly with shipowners, shipyards and design firms, ensuring sustainability is embedded from the design phase onward.

A key part of LISCR’s strategy is its incentive programs.

“We offer discounts on registration fees for ships enrolled in green programs,” Klenum states. The registry actively enhances these schemes to align with the evolving regulatory landscape, including EEXI and CII requirements. The message