IWSA, IBIA and Kpler join Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation

Singapore-based GCMD was founded in August 2021 by founding partners BHP, BW, DNV Foundation, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Ocean Network Express and Sembcorp Marine with funding from the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA); its mission is to shape standards, foster collaboration and deploy solutions to help the maritime industry cut carbon emissions. The centre has signed on many partners since its creation, including energy majors, class societies and shipping lines.

GCMD CEO Professor Lynn Loo, said: “With IBIA, we look to increasing outreach to the bunkering sector, a key stakeholder group especially when we begin preparations for pilots with alternative fuels. GCMD is already working closely with IWSA to gain perspectives and insights relating to wind-assisted propulsion as a near-term retrofit solution. Through Kpler, we will also have access to market data that can help us better understand trade flows which can support us in shaping our pilots and studies.”

Gavin Allwright, Secretary General of IWSA, said: “The challenge of decarbonising the shipping industry requires a fundamental shift towards a hybrid approach, utilising all of the tools we have over the coming decade to make shipping cleaner, more efficient, profitable and fit for purpose in a carbon constrained world. GCMD brings together a wealth of expertise and experience and is positioned at the very centre of this transition.”

Related:Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation signs on four new partners

IBIA Director, Unni Einemo, said: “We saw the importance of cross-industry cooperation and knowledge-sharing to successfully navigate IMO 2020, which IBIA was actively involved in. As we grapple with the much bigger challenges to reach carbon-neutral shipping, collaboration and effective information gathering and sharing is even more important to ensure efforts are aligned. IBIA’s members are increasingly engaged in the supply and use of alternative fuels, or making plans to do so. We look forward to working with our fellow partners in GCMD to untangle the complexities of the energy transition.”

Richard Quin, Kpler’s Chief Strategy Officer., said: "Our data will provide valuable insights and will identify key trends in supply and demand for fuels of crucial importance to the energy transition."