The global maritime industry has faced unprecedented regulatory challenges over the past three years as Western governments have imposed a complex web of sanctions in response to geopolitical developments, most notably the conflict in Ukraine. The introduction of the Russian oil price cap by the so-called ‘Price Cap Coalition’ (comprising the EU, UK, US, and other allies) has fundamentally altered the compliance landscape for all actors in the oil and shipping supply chain, including those involved in the provision of bunkers. The Sanctions RegimeSanctions are a foreign policy tool of economic and diplomatic leverage, imposed to promote national interests, influence […]

Shipping is a sophisticated blend of managed complexity. Thousands of years of commercial shipping has led to an industry that is well versed in navigating and embracing these intricacies. Most recently, this complexity comes in the form of new regulations, alternative fuels and technological advancements that are evolving at such a pace that it feels like the industry is travelling at a thousand knots.Add the dynamic geopolitical landscape and the need for managing this complexity is more important than ever.This is apparent across the value chain as we balance the introductions of new technologies – and their knock-on effects – […]

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) approval of the Net-Zero Framework in April sent a clear signal: the transition to net zero starts now. As a consultative member at the IMO, Pacific Environment has actively been participating in negotiations. While several elements of the framework remain to be finalised and are contingent on its formal, and critical, adoption in October, the global maritime sector has been readying itself for a fundamental change. The adoption of zero- or near-zero (ZNZ) fuels is no longer an aspirational target in decarbonisation, but an essential pathway to make the cuts needed for compliance and a […]

Decarbonisation in shipping has been a headline topic for years. Today, the conversation is no longer about ‘if’ the industry will change but instead about how fast changes will evolve. LNG-powered vessels, scrubber technology and biofuels are already established, while newer solutions, such as emulsion-based fuels and blended alternatives, are entering the mainstream. A multi-fuel, multi-technology future is here, with adoption influenced by vessel type, trade routes, and regulatory frameworks.Over the years, the industry has also built valuable knowledge about alternative fuel production, pricing, safety and availability challenges. At Auramarine, we’ve been invested in this energy transition for a long […]

Despite growing pressure from regulators, supply chain partners and external stakeholders, recent studies reveal that maritime carbon emissions have in fact regressed to 2008 levels.This trend is due to a number of factors including a consistent growth in trade and fleet activity, combined with the slow adoption of clean technologies and an uncertain regulatory landscape, which currently outweighs the industry’s decarbonisation efforts to date. Such alarming statistics threaten the industry’s progression toward achieving the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) upcoming checkpoint of at least a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and ultimately securing net-zero emissions by 2050. […]