Amid increasing pressure on shipping to achieve the IMO 2050 decarbonization targets, the Responsible Shipping Initiative (RSI) and DNV have completed a new study: "Decarbonization of the short sea dry bulk fleet", co-funded by the Swedish Transport Administration. The study finds that while Swedish cargo owners and charterers are committed to greener practices, a lack of regulatory and economic incentives for smaller tonnage is hindering their progress.
Europe’s short sea general cargo fleet is ageing rapidly, with many vessels nearing the end of their operational life and few replacements on order. Most of these ships fall below the 5000 GT compliance threshold for international and EU emissions regulations, which means that shipowners often have litte incentive to invest in lower-emission vessels in line with decarbonization trajectories. As a result, cargo owners who rely on these vessels, including RSI members EFO AB, Lantmännen, SSAB, Stockholm Exergi and Södra, face a strategic challenge: how to secure future transport capacity that helps them meet their climate goals.
Sebastian Tamm, Chairman of RSI and Manager Logistics Development at EFO, said "Through RSI, we’ve long promoted responsible shipping, focusing on working conditions, health, and safety. During the COVID lockdown, we shifted our focus to decarbonization. However, our typical short-term Contracts of Affreightment limit shipowners' ability to invest in radically different vessels. This study highlights the need to turn long-term decarbonization goals into actionable short-term targets for contracting. This will help with planning, investment, and compliance with new regulations. We appreciate DNV’s insights and support in developing this study with us.” (....)