The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have signed a five-year ‘Impact Partnership’ agreement that will see the shipping line investing in trials to decarbonise the sector.
Decarbonising shipping is the biggest challenge facing the maritime sector and one that the industry has acknowledged can only be achieved by step changes in commitment, concrete action and investment by shipping companies, their customers, ports, energy suppliers and the public sector.
The GCMD said in a statement that as an Impact Partner, MSC would provide a ‘cash contribution’ toward GCMD’s pooled resources for pilots and trials. MSC will also make in-kind contributions by participating in projects, including giving access to vessels, operational equipment and other assets, as well as vessel operating data and evaluation reports. These learning will then help to inform future trials.
MSC Group Executive Vice President Maritime Policy & Government Affairs, Bud Darr, said: “We are committed to helping tackle climate change and in GCMD we believe we have found an excellent partner to help drive the green transition in our sector. We look forward to exchanging ideas, information and access to our substantial expertise and assets, to help accelerate progress towards the nett zero future we all aspire to.”
GCMD CEO, Professor Lynn Loo, said despite current economic uncertainties, the move to decarbonise shipping would require shipping lines that are closest to customers willing to pay a green premium, to make hard commitments for the industry to progress towards IMO’s 2030 and 2050 goals.
“With MSC coming on board as our newest Impact Partner, GCMD is now in a stronger position to drive decarbonisation solutions across the industry,” said Loo.
