Decarbonisation Technology February 2026 Issue

A pivotal phase for shipping

Shipping’s transition to net zero is underway. With practical actions and a willingness to adapt, the industry can convert readiness into measurable results

Eirik Ovrum and Øyvind Sekkesæter DNV

T he global shipping industry is at a pivotal phase in its decarbonisation journey. Against the backdrop of unpredictable geopolitics and a turbulent global economy, shipping – a sector responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – faces strong pressure to transform. Drawing on research, industry data, and practical experience, the latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 report from DNV reveals a sector that is increasing its technical readiness for a low-carbon future yet still facing significant hurdles in translating this into real emissions reductions. While the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goals – which include achieving net zero ‘by or around’ 2050 – may seem lofty and highly ambitious, several different pathways can lead shipowners to significant emissions reductions over the coming years and decades (see Figure 1 ). However, this will require cross-industry collaboration, major infrastructure development, and regulatory clarity, which will

biodiesel, an emerging portion of the fleet has the capability to do so using alternative, non-oil fuels, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ammonia, or hydrogen. As shown in the Maritime Forecast to 2050 , by 2030 alternative- fuel capable vessels will have the capacity to burn around 50 Mtoe per year of non-oil fuels, a significant portion of the total annual fuel consumption of 280 Mtoe. In 2024, the industry saw a record uptake of alternative-fuel capable vessels (see Figure 2 ). As shown in DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, 515 vessels with alternative-fuel (mainly dual-fuel) capability were ordered in 2024, representing a 38% increase compared to 2023. The majority of these (67%) were for LNG-fuelled vessels in the container segment, as shipowners demonstrated an attraction to a fuel that can provide immediate GHG reductions (up to around 20%) while also offering a potential pathway to net zero through the eventual use of low-GHG versions,

give shipowners the confidence to move from ambition to action.

Net-zero framework

Speed reduction Logistics and digitalisation Vessel utilisation Vessel size Alternative routes

Maritime technological

Hydrodynamics

Machinery

Energy

After-treatment

LNG, LPG

Carbon capture and storage

Hull coating Hull-form optimisation Air lubrication Cleaning

Machinery eciency improvements

transition underway Ultimately, the pathway to net zero will depend on the transition of a sizeable portion of the global fleet to low-GHG fuels. Although any ship could decarbonise by using low-GHG

Biofuels Electrication Methanol Ammonia Hydrogen Wind power Nuclear

Waste-heat recovery Engine de-rating Battery hybridisation Fuel cells

>20% 5%–15% 5%–20% 0%–100% 0%–90%

Figure 1 Solutions and GHG reduction potential