How to hit the 5% target

The shipping industry remains off track to meet its target of having at least 5-10% uptake of zero-emission fuels by 2030. This group will work together to develop a timeline of the key decisions needed from policymakers and companies to meet the goal.

Making the ask on decarbonisation

Reducing and eventually eliminating shipping emissions cannot happen without different parts of the value chain working together. This group will take a structured approach to identifying "asks" that need to be made by and of shipowners, cargo owners, fuel producers, ports, financiers, and insurers to accelerate shipping's decarbonisation, thereby highlighting barriers and unlocking opportunities for collaborative approaches.

Accelerating investment in green shipping fuels

Industry leaders want to invest now in scalable, sustainable fuels. But the case for the greenest options is still shaky, with incomplete regulations and fragmented certification and verification systems. This session will look at what fuel producers, ship operators, and cargo owners need from one another to make advanced, future-ready solutions commercially viable.

Maximising efficiency measures

Operational efficiency plays a critical role in reducing shipping emissions today, while also preparing the industry for a more manageable long-term transition to a zero-emission future as it will reduce the fuel need. This group will look at common adoption barriers and develop strategies to overcome them.

Future-proofing seafaring

The maritime industry is rapidly transforming due to decarbonisation and digitalisation, yet most seafarers lack necessary skills for the future. This working group will explore the preparedness of the seafaring workforce and discuss how training, certification, and funding models might evolve to support a just and safe energy transition.

Making the business case for crew well-being

As the maritime sector braces for a talent shortage and rising operational costs, this working group will examine the role of crew well-being in vessel performance, workforce retention, safety, and asset value.

Increasing the intake of new talent

Expanding the seafaring workforce is critical to easing the growing shortfall of qualified officers. Yet systemic barriers still hinder new talent from entering the sector, chief among them the limited availability of cadet berths. This working group will explore collective solutions to meeting the industry’s current and future talent needs.

Rethinking crewing levels: Safe manning or bare minimum?

Many ships operate with minimum crews, leaving seafarers working unsustainable hours—averaging 75 per week, far above International Labour Organization limits. Fatigue threatens safety, well-being, and the environment. This working group will explore how the industry can strengthen safe manning practices.

Work-life balance: How can we do it?

Careers at sea often demand sacrifices, with long hours, unpredictable schedules, and limited family support. This working group will explore how industry leaders might work together to promote better work-life balance for seafarers.

Is the system broken? Addressing gaps in maritime governance

The maritime governance system is being challenged by poor enforcement and compliance, and exploited by substandard operators. This has created a two-tier system which puts assets, crews, the environment, and ultimately the sector’s license to operate at risk. This working group will identify critical governance gaps and explore options to address them.

Managing uncertainty and strengthening resilience

Global maritime trade is increasingly exposed to overlapping geopolitical and geoeconomic pressures, from trade disputes and protectionism to shifting alliances and armed conflict. This group will explore how to strengthen resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Taking on drug traffickers

Maritime drug trafficking is escalating, with record seizures at ports. As controls tighten, traffickers shift offshore, exploiting ships, cargo, and crews, exposing the industry to disruption, reputational harm, and criminalisation. This working group will explore collective strategies to improve detection, protect seafarers, and strengthen industry resilience against organised crime.

Liability and compensation for alternative shipping fuels

Although shipping's decarbonisation transition is making good progress, the existing regimes intended to protect asset owners and society at large in case of incidents are not fit for purpose with respect to alternative fuels. This group will discuss risks related to this situation, including possible delays of critical first-mover efforts and a lack of adequate compensation for affected parties.

Ship recycling: Navigating the transition to sustainable end-of-life solutions

The global steel industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The hunger for high-quality scrap steel is positioning ship recycling as a critical supplier to the circular economy. However, the regulatory framework around ship recycling is complex and, to some degree, contradictory. This creates major bottlenecks and results in ships being sold prematurely or diverted to substandard segments, while the embedded material value in ageing fleets remains largely untapped. This group will examine how innovation, technology, and collaboration can make sustainable ship recycling commercially viable.

Maritime leadership amid shifting sustainability and ESG landscapes

This session will explore how the maritime sector can lead in shaping a sustainable, resilient, and equitable global trade system that goes beyond compliance. It will also examine how the sector can sustain momentum on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments amid political pushback. Participants will consider how to balance visionary goals with practical realities.

Opportunities and challenges in a changing world

Globally changing power dynamics are influencing global trade routes. At the same time, shipping’s decarbonisation and the shift to new fuels are opening new bunkering and trade patterns, including in the Global South. This group will explore the opportunities that this may generate and discuss how to unlock finance for moving towards bankability and viability.

Ministerial Roundtable (by invitation only)

The maritime sector is facing shifting geopolitics, trade turmoil, and a governance system strained by a surge in substandard shipping. At the same time, major shifts ranging from decarbonisation to changing trade patterns and talent attraction represent key opportunities. In this context, it is essential to explore how governments and industry can collectively steer the maritime sector towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Rapporteur: Annelies Verlinden, Minister of Justice and the North Sea, Belgium