This October, representatives from over 100 countries will gather in London for an International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting. The event could mark a historic milestone: the adoption of a legally binding “net-zero emissions framework” for shipping. If approved, the shipping industry would become the first sector required by a global treaty to decarbonize.
Proposed Rules
The net-zero framework requires all ships engaged in international shipping of 5,000 gross tons or more to gradually reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity, or face financial penalties. Ships meeting or exceeding this threshold account for 85% of shipping’s climate impact. GHG intensity measures the amount of CO₂-equivalent emissions per unit of fuel energy.
If approved in October, the framework is expected to take effect in 2028. Ships that fail to meet the “basic compliance” target will face the highest fees—$378 per ton of GHG emitted. Ships that meet the basic target will pay $100 per ton, while those meeting a lower “direct compliance” target (which tightens annually) will be exempt from fees and may earn credits. For example, a ship reducing its emissions intensity by 21% by 2030, or 43% by 2035, would avoid the $100 fee and could use or sell the resulting emissions allowances.
Experts anticipate that once implemented, the rules will be enforced as rigorously as other IMO environmental regulations, such as those controlling air pollution.
The Real Challenge of Shipping Decarbonization
Even with a clear policy framework, actual emissions reductions face significant technical and operational hurdles. Large vessels still rely heavily on heavy fuel oil or low-sulfur fuel oil. Cleaner alternatives—such as green ammonia, green hydrogen, and bio-methanol—hold promise but remain costly and technically challenging to produce, store, and use. Even with energy-saving measures like high-tech sails or optimized hull designs, these steps alone may not fully offset emissions from a growing shipping sector.
Daily operational inefficiencies are often overlooked. If decarbonization focuses solely on fuel swaps and equipment upgrades while ignoring these hidden inefficiencies, overall emissions reductions may fall short of policy goals.
Biofouling: An Underestimated Source of Emissions
Biofouling has long been underestimated in shipping efficiency management. Barnacles, algae, and mussels quickly attach to the hull and propellers, creating rough surfaces that significantly increase drag and fuel consumption. Studies show severe fouling can boost fuel use by 20–40%, doubling CO₂ emissions. In other words, even ships running on clean fuels can see limited emissions reductions if their hulls are covered in marine growth.
The hidden impact of fouling increases energy use, carbon emissions, and compliance costs, making it a challenge that shipowners and regulators cannot ignore.
Neptune Robotic Hull Cleaning Solution
To tackle this problem, Neptune underwater robots are emerging as a smart, data-driven tool for shipping decarbonization. Unlike traditional manual cleaning, Neptune’s underwater robots can operate reliably in low visibility, strong currents, nighttime, or adverse weather. They provide comprehensive hull inspections and generate digital, visualized reports, giving shipowners clear insights into fouling conditions.
Where hull coatings allow, robots can use advanced cavitation water-jet technology to remove biofouling efficiently, restoring hull smoothness and significantly reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
This intelligent approach not only cuts costs but also helps shipowners comply with IMO regulations and international carbon standards. As policies tighten and alternative fuels mature, robotic hull inspection and cleaning are becoming a practical pathway to decarbonization, marking a key step toward a digital, smart, and sustainable shipping industry.
Coordinating Technology and Policy
Decarbonizing shipping requires a coordinated approach between policy and technology. Beyond underwater robots, innovations in alternative fuel production and supply chains, optimized ship design, intelligent speed management, and energy management systems are all essential. Stable and clear policies provide the confidence for shipowners and fuel suppliers to invest in a low-carbon future.
The IMO’s net-zero framework lays the institutional groundwork for emissions reductions, though long-term goals and technical standards are still being refined. In the coming years, the global shipping industry is expected to move steadily toward a truly green and sustainable era, guided by policy, market incentives, and technological progress.
