The State of Qatar, led by Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al-Thani, participated in the 34th IMO Assembly in London. The Minister highlighted Qatar’s commitment to maritime safety, environmental protection, and training initiatives, including a new Maritime Training Center, emphasizing the nation’s strategic focus on its maritime industry.
At the G7 meeting in Canada, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar presented a vision for maritime security, emphasizing the Indo-Pacific region’s importance. He advocated for port-led development and international cooperation, addressing challenges like piracy and illegal fishing. Jaishankar affirmed India’s commitment to a rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS.
The European Commission has launched its Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) to boost the aviation and maritime sectors’ energy transition. By 2035, around 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels will be needed, requiring a €100 billion investment. The plan aims for climate neutrality by 2050, emphasizing regulatory stability to attract funding.
India is poised to become a major global shipbuilding hub, targeting a 5% market share by 2030. Union Minister Shantanu Thakur outlined a strategy focusing on ten advanced shipyards through public-private partnerships, emphasizing eco-friendly practices, technological innovation, and infrastructure enhancements to support maritime self-reliance and sustainable growth.
The UK Department for Transport has launched a Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions in domestic maritime transport. The goal is zero fuel lifecycle GHG emissions by 2050, with interim targets of 30% reduction by 2030 and 80% reduction by 2040. The strategy focuses on smaller vessels below 400GT with clear pathways to decarbonisation.
The European Commission has unveiled an industrial maritime strategy to enhance Europe’s maritime manufacturing sector’s competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience. This strategy supports the green and digital transition, infrastructure development, and investment in decarbonization solutions. Collaboration across the waterborne transport sector is crucial for maintaining global leadership and creating quality jobs.
Maersk celebrated the naming of its third large dual-fuel methanol containership, Antonia Maersk, in Denmark. This milestone marks the company’s commitment to fleet modernization with environmentally friendly vessels. CEO Vincent Clerc highlighted the challenges and plans for transitioning to green fuels to reduce carbon emissions and meet decarbonization goals.
