Viewpoint: NAPA Safety Solutions SMOOTH OPERATORS

BY ESA HENTTINEN

The executive vice president of NAPA Safety Solutions looks at how data and simulation tools are charting a new course for maritime sustainability

For the past few years, a key focus of meetings at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been carbon emissions and how its member states can agree to push shipping decarbonisation further. The global regulator still has a long way to go on setting more stringent targets, but it is not the only driving force towards sustainability. The months and years ahead will cement the key role of digital tools in helping the maritime sector achieve (and exceed) IMO targets.

Little was achieved in terms of setting more challenging decarbonisation targets at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 79) in December last year. This puts more pressure on decisions to be made in July at MEPC 80, where shipping’s global regulator is due to adopt a revised strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping. This will be a defining moment of 2023, and perhaps the whole decade, for shipping’s decarbonisation journey, with the potential adoption of a net-zero target for 2050 and market-based measures on the cards.

Whatever happens at that crucial meeting or beyond, we’re confident that the maritime sector has access to the necessary technology and expertise to reach net zero. This is a transition that must begin today and, as an industry, we have a duty to make the most of tools already available to reduce our carbon footprint. That’s why we joined the Global Maritime Forum’s call to decarbonise shipping by 2050, and continue to find new ways for the industry to collaborate and accelerate the green transition.

Turning obligation into opportunity

Digitalisation will be at the heart of change both on the ship and shore side, and IMO’s recognition of this was demonstrated in its Facilitation Committee meeting in May 2022. The Committee adopted amendments to the Facilitation (FAL) Convention, which will make the single window for data exchange mandatory in ports around the world from 2024.

This marks a significant step in the acceleration of digitalisation in shipping, helping ensure that crews only have to input information required on arrival, stay and departure