By Mark Edward Nero
mark@maritimepublishing.com

The issue of “green” technology was among the major global issues discussed at the annual Hong Kong Maritime Week event, which took place in late November.
The latest event, which organizers say attracted 14,000 attendees from 30 countries, is now in its eighth year. It’s designed to unite and showcase Hong Kong maritime interests, raise awareness of the economic contributions of Hong Kong’s maritime and port industries and promote the region as a base for maritime business.
During multiple conferences and seminars, the topic of new technology for cargo carrier vessels was discussed. Several speakers made clear that the trend has shifted from developing autonomous ships (also called self-steering or unmanned vessels) to devising zero-emissions and low-emissions technologies for vessels.
This is due to emissions regulations that are being imposed in the relatively near future, including an International Maritime Organization goal of a 20% reduction in emissions (from 2008 levels) by 2030, with a non-binding goal of 30%; a 70% reduction in emissions by 2040, with a goal of 80%, and a net-zero target by 2050.
During his opening remarks on the first full day of the event, American Bureau of Shipping President and Chief Operating Officer John McDonald said that environmental issues that affect shipping are of paramount importance during what’s becoming a season of change for the industry.
“Our industry must respond to climate change and decarbonization, along with digitalization and the rise of cyber-enabled systems onboard, with all the associated risks,” he said. “You combine that with a rapid regulatory advance and you have an unbelievably challenging operational environment.”
“We truly are in uncharted waters,” he continued. “At the heart of this challenge today is the global energy transition and its requirement for shipping to reduce its emissions.”
“But as we break through the technology barriers, develop the engines, source the fuels and identify the operational and safety requirements we will need, it’s becoming clear the energy transition is much, much more than the sum of these parts,” he explained. “The transition will require extensive infrastructure investment in fuel bunkering (and) storage in ports, as well as the transformational potential of green shipping corridors and global energy marine hubs.”
Another speaker at the event, International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, underscored the need for cohesive global regulations regarding significant issues, including decarbonization, and said that the IMO’s member states remain “strongly committed” to achieving emissions goals.
“New technologies are imperative to protect our oceans and planet from GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions and from pollution (with) the potential to disrupt, but shipping simply has to adapt,” he said. “IMO will continue to work to regulate shipping to a greener, safer, more secure and more sustainable future.”
Decarbonization Focus
Capt. Nittin Handa, the director of regulatory affairs for the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, told Pacific Maritime that because of the incoming IMO regulations, creation of low- and zero-emissions technologies has taken precedent over other industry initiatives, such as the development of autonomous ships, something that was trending upward until the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Right now, I think the industry is more focused on decarbonization,” he said. “The technological development (of autonomous vessels) is definitely happening, it’s going on (but) I think it’s still a little bit down the line. Our immediate target is decarbonization.”
“I think (smart vessel) development will be led by the regulators in this particular case, because there is much more at risk from the vessel point of view,” he added. “The development has to come from the vessels and then from the regulators and then both the parties—the vessels and the ports—need to adopt those technologies to kind of interface with each other.”
Global Economy, World Security
Another trending topic that numerous panelists and speakers discussed during Maritime Week was the need for cooperation between nations, spurred by the results of the 2024 American presidential election and the President-elect’s stated pro-U.S. agenda.
Angad Banga, chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association said that a “challenging” geopolitical environment is “putting longstanding free trade principles in jeopardy” and leading to “an erosion of the global rules-based systems on which our industry has flourished.”
“We must stand firm, do all that we can to prevent further erosion and fight to prevent what has already taken place, because the global economy and perhaps world security are depending on our ability to navigate the seas of the world,” he said.
Marina Hadjimanolis, the deputy shipping minister for the Republic of Cyprus, stated bluntly that her country is against protectionism.
“It is a dangerous path,” she said. “What Cyprus is doing, is we encourage dialogue on not only national matters, but global matters as well. And we feel that (with) many countries in this dialogue, we win together. Because none of us can do it alone, but together we can make it (protectionism) maybe stop in a few years.”
“It is only by working and engaging with each other that we can find the solutions to risks and disruptions that arise,” Dominguez said. “Member states engage in discussions and make decisions on global regulations essential to assuring that shipping continues to operate safely and efficiently.
“Shipping is inherently international, and unilateral rules can undermine the regulatory framework agreed upon by IMO,” he added.
McDonald added that given shipping’s role in feeding the world and powering the economy, an ability to deliver a “cleaner, more efficient industry that is safer and therefore truly sustainable is a challenge that everyone has a stake in.”
“By working together,” he said, “I am confident that we can deliver. We must: the world is definitely relying on us.”