The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) - Experts & Thought Leaders

Eni, an energy company, Fincantieri, a world pioneer in complex shipbuilding, and RINA, a multinational group specialising in engineering consultancy, certification, and inspection, presented the “Sustainable Maritime Transport Outlook” in Rome — in the presence of the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. The study, focused on the maritime sector, was developed with the technical support of Bain & Company Italy. Net Zero target for 2050 The study aims to contribute to accelerating the decarbonisation of the maritime transport sector The study aims to contribute to accelerating the decarbonisation of the maritime transport sector, in line with the Net Zero target for 2050. It forms part of the broader framework of the agreement signed on March 25, 2024, by Eni, Fincantieri, and RINA, with the shared goal of establishing a global observatory to monitor and assess the medium- to long-term evolution of sustainable decarbonisation solutions for the sector. Carbon neutrality by 2050 The maritime industry is responsible for approximately 3% of global CO2 emissions and is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To reach this goal, a clear and realistic roadmap is essential — one that minimises uncertainty and risk for investors while offering practical, economically viable solutions for the entire industry.  Cost implications for shipowners Overview of viable decarbonisation options tailored to different vessel segments and regions Addressing this need through a holistic approach, the study provides, for the first time, a global overview of viable decarbonisation options tailored to different vessel segments and regions worldwide. It also integrates volume assessments with a comprehensive analysis of cost implications for shipowners and the investment requirements across the logistics and port infrastructure chain. In the short term, the energy carriers most capable of reducing CO2 emissions include: LNG (liquefied natural gas) – a fossil fuel with lower carbon intensity, though it requires significant infrastructure investments for storage, handling, and bunkering at ports.  Biofuels – including HVO, which can be used in its pure form without the need for infrastructure upgrades, and FAME which faces significant limitations when used in pure form.  Merchant shipping sector Over the long term, biofuels — including the emergence of Bio-LNG and biomethanol — are expected to remain the primary solution for the merchant shipping sector. Synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen, along with hydrogen itself, are also likely to gain traction in specific applications — such as low- and medium-power cruise ships — as their competitiveness improves and supply chains continue to develop. Development and implementation of impactful initiatives Synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen, along with hydrogen itself, are also likely to gain traction Giuseppe Ricci, Chief Operating Officer for Industrial Transformation at Eni, commented: “A year ago, together with Fincantieri and RINA, we committed to developing a global observatory focused on the evolving landscape of sustainable decarbonisation solutions for the maritime sector." "This study — the result of combined expertise, resources, and technologies from key industry players — has produced a clear and actionable framework that can guide the development and implementation of impactful initiatives to decarbonise maritime transport across various segments, while considering the full supply chain." "As also recognised at the EU level, there is growing consensus that biofuels — particularly those already available and usable in their pure form, like HVO — are among the most effective solutions currently available to reduce GHG emissions in the maritime sector.” Sustainable Maritime Transport Outlook Pierroberto Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Fincantieri, stated: “Decarbonising maritime transport is a challenge that demands industrial vision and the ability to turn innovation into real-world solutions. The Sustainable Maritime Transport Outlook presented today marks a strategic step in that direction — an integrated analysis grounded in real data and scenarios, developed with the support of pioneering players across the sector." "This is also the foundation for our commitment to establish a global observatory, reinforcing our role in driving the transition toward lower environmental impact, while creating value and ensuring competitiveness throughout the entire ship lifecycle. With our Net Zero Ship goal set for 2035, Fincantieri is looking ahead — pioneering the change and integrating technology and sustainability to stay competitive in the long term.” Shipping and transport value chain Carlo Luzzatto, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of RINA stated: “Knowledge transfer is a key enabler in accelerating the energy transition. Our ability to bring together expertise and experience from different sectors — particularly energy and maritime, where we have a long-standing presence — allows us to develop effective decarbonisation solutions." "Partnerships like this one with Eni and Fincantieri are essential for turning innovation into practical applications, creating value for all players across the shipping and transport value chain.” Future low-emission maritime routes Pierluigi Serlenga, Managing Partner Italy at Bain & Company, added: “Industry stakeholders and investors need a clear vision to guide technological choices and investment strategies. With this first edition of the Observatory, we’ve delivered a valuable tool to help interpret the evolution of the fuel mix in both the short and long term." "Starting around 2040, new solutions will gradually be adopted on specific routes and use cases, complementing biofuels and LNG — although the latter will need to come from bio-based sources. It’s therefore critical to develop a roadmap for upgrading Italy’s port infrastructure to ensure it remains competitive and central to future low-emission maritime routes." "We estimate that by 2050, around €24 billion in investments will be needed across the European port system — a significant share of which represents a real business opportunity for the Italian maritime value chain.” Adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels Maritime sector remains heavily reliant on traditional fuels, which account for 93% of total energy consumption Now, the maritime sector remains heavily reliant on traditional fuels, which account for 93% of total energy consumption. The goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is driving a major transformation across the industry, with increasing adoption of alternative propulsion sources. In 2023, around 50% of new ship orders were designed for alternative fuels, reflecting a shift toward greater sustainability. Ports are beginning to adapt, developing infrastructure to support a range of new fuel and technology options — but progress remains insufficient.  The adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels will depend on a complex mix of factors, including national and regional energy strategies, consumer behaviour, macroeconomic trends, geopolitical developments, supply chain risks, and the pace of technological advancement. Levels of decarbonisation ambition The Outlook presents three future scenarios, each based on varying levels of decarbonisation ambition, technological progress, and availability of fuels and infrastructure. HVO is already available at key ports and offers a degree of cost resilience Projections suggest that decarbonisation will advance more rapidly in the EU and the United States, while fossil fuels and LNG will continue to dominate in the Asia-Pacific region and other parts of the world — making up approximately 70% of the energy mix by 2050.  Between 2030 and 2040, Europe and North America are expected to see a major shift from fossil fuels to HVO biofuels — which will serve as the cornerstone of the transition — and to LNG, including its bio-derived form. HVO is already available at key ports and offers a degree of cost resilience, while LNG remains economically competitive in the near term, though it will face increasing regulatory penalties from 2040 onward. Carbon neutrality by 2050 To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the industry will also need to explore new alternative fuels, such as synthetic fuels produced from green hydrogen. However, these are not expected to become cost-competitive with fossil fuels until after 2040. Industry need to explore new alternative fuels, such as synthetic fuels produced from green hydrogen In the long term, biofuels derived from renewable feedstocks and synthetic fuels will be essential for decarbonising medium- and long-range merchant vessels. For short-range ships, bioenergy solutions will be sufficient. In the cruise segment, small to mid-sized vessels (luxury and exploration classes) are expected to adopt both HVO biofuels and synthetic fuels, while larger vessels (upper premium and contemporary classes) will rely more heavily on bioenergy sources such as HVO, bio-LNG, and biomethanol. Distribution of alternative fuels Successfully managing this transition will require significant long-term investment in port infrastructure to accommodate the supply and distribution of alternative fuels. Within the European Union alone, investments of up to €24 billion are projected. In terms of infrastructure needs, HVO biofuels and LNG will require relatively limited investment (around 15%), due to their compatibility with existing systems. In contrast, synthetic fuels will demand substantial investment (around 85%), as the necessary infrastructure has yet to be developed.

As the curtains fall on Europort 2023, memories linger of an event that saw stakeholders from across the maritime world connect on the key themes of energy transition and digitalisation, as well as the human capital and finance needed to support them. Europort 2023 Europort has drawn to a close after four busy days of conferences, networking, and awards ceremonies that also saw a series of new and innovative products introduced to the maritime and offshore markets. In 2023, 24,470 visitors and 1,051 exhibitors from 107 countries converged on Rotterdam, Europe’s maritime capital, for the 41st edition of Europort. Opening summit The opening keynote speech and visual presentation were crafted entirely by AI Proceedings got underway on Tuesday, 7 November with a provocative Opening Summit exploring artificial intelligence in the maritime industry. With the audience surprised to learn that the opening keynote speech and visual presentation had been crafted entirely by AI, the session set the tone for a week in which technology was a prominent theme. Evolve 6EL23 engine, Methanol Superstorage On day two, 8 November, Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) unveiled its innovative Evolve 6EL23 engine – a multi-fuel, six-cylinder engine that “embraces the future of engine technology” to help ABC customers tackle their energy-transition challenges. In another energy transition-related product launch on the following day, SRC Group showcased its ‘Methanol Superstorage’ solution that overcomes the storage issues typically associated with the use of methanol as a marine fuel. Methanol as a marine fuel We officially launched Methanol Superstorage to support the adoption and deployment of methanol “At Europort 2023, we officially launched Methanol Superstorage, a ground-breaking solution to support the adoption and deployment of methanol as a marine fuel,” commented Hannes Lilp, CEO, of SRC Group.  “This aligned perfectly with Europort’s key theme of energy transition, and we were delighted with the level of interest from visitors throughout the week.” Sustainable shipping Europort’s coverage of sustainable shipping was a recurring topic among attendees, with Marcel Wandel, Aftermarkets Sales Manager, Global Customer Support, Kongsberg Maritime which won the SMART4SEA Europort Autonomous Shipping Award on 9 November commenting, “Our strapline of ‘Protecting People and Planet’ is well represented at Europort given the event’s emphasis on sustainability." "Europort is also the most important event for the Benelux market and, in line with our role of developing technological solutions in maritime, has been very good for us so far.” The Netherlands is a key link  Europort connects us with all kinds of partners given the presence of ship owners, yards, and technology companies" Guido Garufi, Business Development Manager Benelux, RINA, said, “With our focus on sustainability, not only for the ship but for the entire infrastructure in maritime, Europort connects us with all kinds of partners given the presence of ship owners, yards, and technology companies." "The Netherlands is also key for us as a link between the Baltic Sea countries, the northern Mediterranean, and Türkiye.” Significance to the UK supply chain Another aspect of Europort 2023 that received praise from attendees was its international reach. Helen Stephen, Director, of the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI), commented, “Europort is a key event for SMI as a showcase for UK marine-engineering capabilities to an international audience." "With its special significance to the UK supply chain, the Dutch market is also important for our association and member companies.” Turkish and Dutch clusters Europort is not just an exhibition but a connection point for all those involved in the sector" Mehtap Karahallı Özdemir, Secretary General, GİSBİR – the Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association discussed the close links between the Turkish and Dutch maritime clusters, describing Europort as an “excellent platform” for bringing diverse stakeholders together. “The size of our participation is growing each time, and this year, more than 40 Turkish companies are exhibiting at the show,” she added. “Europort is not just an exhibition but a connection point for all those involved in the sector, and we have been delighted to participate in the wider programme for the week.” Bawat Damen The international makeup of Europort’s exhibitor list provided fertile ground for collaboration and innovation. On 9 November, Dutch company Damen Green Solutions and Swedish-headquartered Bawat Water Technologies signed a formal agreement to solidify their joint venture, ‘Bawat Damen’, in the development and sales of cutting-edge mobile ballast water treatment systems. CAREER4SEA Europort Awards On 10 November, the successful 41st edition of Europort came to a close following events including the Connecting Next-gen Professionals to Maritime Finance debate, the human capital-themed CAREER4SEA Europort Awards, and the Fisheries Innovation Network (FIN) first-anniversary session. The FIN event, which saw a visit from Piet Adema, Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality, explored the sustainable practices and new technologies shaping the future of fishing. Organisers at Europort will soon turn their attention to Europort 2025, which takes place from 2 to 5 November at Rotterdam Ahoy.

Maritime sectors must work together to enable the shipping industry to meet the challenges it faces over the coming years and to develop a greener and more sustainable future. Speaking in the first of a series of video interviews for London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23), Pino Spadafora, Senior Director, Global Marine Commercial & Strategy, for classification society - RINA, pointed out that LISW23 provides ‘an incredible platform’ for shipping executives to share experiences. London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23) Class societies are at the forefront of shipping’s development to meet its challenges Highlighting the importance of engaging with fellow shipping industry colleagues across many sectors, Pino Spadafora said: “We have to work together, there is no solo approach.” Class societies are at the forefront of shipping’s development to meet its challenges. In the 20 minute interview for London Interviews, Mr. Spadafora discussed a number of shipping concerns with LISW Co-Founder - Sean Moloney. RINA’s holistic approach encompass information sharing Pino Spadafora outlined how RINA is acting as an integrator to bring together industry colleagues from throughout shipping and taking a holistic approach encompassing information sharing. He also advised of the usefulness of gaining inspiration from best practices in other business sectors such as aviation.