At the “Energy Efficiency in Focus” expert seminar during Posidonia, DNV Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen addressed the critical issues and prospects for decarbonizing the maritime industry. He emphasized the importance of energy efficiency measures amidst increasingly stringent regulations and ambitious goals.
In his presentation, Ørbeck-Nilssen outlined the significant challenges the shipping industry faces in its decarbonization efforts: “Decarbonization in the maritime industry is likely to slow down. Vessels are busy trading, and there is little incentive to bring them into yards for retrofitting to alternative fuels. On top of that, there is limited capacity at the yards. And although over 50% of new orders being placed are for vessels with dual-fuel capability – which is a really good start – 93% of the global fleet is still running on conventional fuels.”
Ørbeck-Nilssen also noted that investing in vessels with dual-fuel capability requires paying a high premium on the capital expenditure, making it difficult for investors to pass these costs up the value chain. These expenses largely fall on the shipowners who make the investments. For segments lacking high commercial drivers, considering energy efficiency measures is essential.
He also presented the supply side of alternative fuels as another significant challenge, with insufficient availability of green fuels, which are expected to remain scarce for the foreseeable future.
On the same level, Ørbeck-Nilssen stressed the urgent need for practical and economically viable solutions to achieve decarbonization. He called for a realistic assessment of the current capabilities and limitations within the industry, highlighting the importance of bridging the gap between regulatory ambitions and industry realities for future progress.
