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The ship.energy podcast

The ship.energy podcast

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The ship.energy podcast allows subscribers to engage first-hand with the many discussions that are happening and evolving around shipping’s energy transition.

We talk regularly to maritime thought leaders, technology experts, policymakers and finance providers as shipping embarks on its huge learning curve towards decarbonisation.

Expect some tough talking, intelligent thinking, as well as some questions – nobody has all the answers!

Join the discussion today by following ship.energy on LinkedIn, Facebook or X. ship.energy limited Economics Politics & Government Science
Episodes
  • S6 Ep22: MEPC Special: reactions to IMO Net-Zero Framework postponement

    S6 Ep22: MEPC Special: reactions to IMO Net-Zero Framework postponement
    Oct 27 2025
    In this special episode, we analyse the implications of the IMO Net-Zero Framework postponement with representatives of the shipping industry, Pacific Island States and environmental NGOs who attended the extraordinary MEPC meeting.
    John Taukave, researcher at the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport, describes the outcome of the extraordinary MEPC session, where a majority of IMO member states voted to adjourn the meeting for a year, as ‘very heartbreaking’ and ‘a huge disappointment’ that will bring an additional year of climate impacts for Pacific Island communities.
    A technical support and advisor for the Vanuatu delegation during the meeting, he describes the pressure, including at the highest level of government, that many countries came under from the United States, which opposed what it described as a carbon tax and threatened possible retaliation against states that would support it.
    John also looks ahead to the next steps, vowing that Pacific Island States will continue their outreach work and the development of proposals to build support for the adoption of a first global GHG pricing mechanism for international shipping.
    Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, also expresses his disappointment at the outcome of the MEPC session, which he says fails to provide shipowners with the certainty they need to make major investment decisions.
    Asked to analyse why the IMO Net-Zero Framework went from having the support of a majority of countries in April to a majority voting to postpone it six months later, he emphasises the importance of avoiding ‘blame games’. Although ICS had supported the proposed regulation to ensure a level playing field for the global industry, Simon acknowledges that the agreement’s complexity had caused concern. He argues that ‘a way has to be found’ to account for the reservations expressed by many countries.
    Simon also reflects on what the outcome of MEPC means for IMO’s role as shipping’s global regulator. He warns that, if member states opt for an ‘explicit’ acceptance procedure, as was suggested by the United States, it risks creating a precedent that would make future regulatory updates more difficult.
    Blánaid Sheeran, Policy Officer for Climate Diplomacy at Opportunity Green, insists that the IMO Net-Zero Framework is not dead, but delayed. She highlights that there is now an opportunity for regional and national players, as well as corporations, to take leadership on maritime decarbonisation.
    While acknowledging that current geopolitics may make it harder to reach global climate agreements in the short term, she points out that politics is ‘ever changing’, whilst ‘climate change is not politics; it is science, and it is facts.’
    Asked about the development of implementation guidelines, which began immediately after MEPC, she reports that those discussions have so far been constructive, with member states showing a ‘collaborative spirit.’ She expresses her optimism that a consensus could be found in the next year, before delegates have to adjudicate again on the proposed GHG pricing mechanism for international shipping.
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    29 mins
  • S6 Ep21: Fotini Ioannidou, Director of Waterborne Transport Directorate General for Mobility and Transport European Commission

    S6 Ep21: Fotini Ioannidou, Director of Waterborne Transport Directorate General for Mobility and Transport European Commission
    Oct 6 2025
    As countries prepare for a decisive vote on the IMO Net-Zero Framework, the EU Commission expresses confidence that the first global pricing mechanism for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping will be adopted.
    Podcast highlights
    In this conversation, the EU Commission’s Director of Waterborne Transport, Fotini Ioannidou, explains why she remains confident that the IMO Net-Zero Framework will be adopted by a ‘large majority’ of member states at an extraordinary session of the organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in mid-October.
    While acknowledging that pressure from the United States, which includes possible retaliation against countries that will support the proposed global GHG pricing mechanism, is ‘serious’ and will weigh on countries’ positions, she does not believe it will be sufficient to destroy what she describes as ‘the commitment of the global community to deliver this first-of-its-kind global decarbonisation agreement.’
    Asked what ‘plan B’ would look like if a majority of countries reject the Framework, she insists that there is ‘no credible alternative’ to the deal and there won’t be an opportunity to negotiate another one. She warns that, should MEPC fail to adopt the global regulation, the consequence would be regulatory fragmentation that would raise administrative burdens and costs for shipping.
    Fotini also responds to calls, from the industry, for the EU to align its Emissions Trading System (ETS) and FuelEU Maritime regulations. She assures that the review process for both legislations will start ‘without delay’ as soon as the global framework is adopted to avoid a double regulatory burden for shipping companies.
    Looking ahead, she also remarks that the next phase of negotiations on the development of guidelines is ‘likely to prove as difficult’ as were the talks that led to the agreement on the Net-Zero Framework itself. She singles out guidelines on rewards for zero or near-zero (ZNZ) fuels as ‘a priority among priorities’, which she says will be critical to provide clarity for investment in new fuels and energy sources.
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    27 mins
  • S6 Ep20: Marcel Goncalves, Vice President, Decarbonization, Carnival Corporation

    S6 Ep20: Marcel Goncalves, Vice President, Decarbonization, Carnival Corporation
    Sep 22 2025
    Cruise company Carnival Corporation unpacks the learning from its experience spearheading shore power in this new episode of the First Movers series.
    Podcast highlights
    Marcel explains how a combination of geography, available renewable electricity supplies and community support led Carnival Corporation to develop shore power in Juneau, Alaska, back in 2001.
    Nearly 25 years later, he acknowledges that the use of shore power across the fleet of 90 ships remains relatively small, given that only 33 of the 800 ports where the vessels call (about 4%) currently offer shore power.
    Nevertheless, he argues that the investment in making vessels capable of using shore power, which runs into the millions per ship, was worth it.
    While he recognises that shore power does not make sense for all ports due to insufficient grid capacity or a lack of maritime traffic, he argues that the investment would make commercial sense for many more ports. He points to the importance of leadership from port authorities in driving initiatives like shore power, and shares his view on why deployment has been sluggish in the past two decades.
    Marcel also responds to the wider debate about sustainability in the cruise sector. He points out that by improving energy efficiency, the company has lowered its greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity per passenger by 41% compared to 2008 levels and peaked its total emissions in 2011 despite growing its business by 37%.
    However, he emphasises that the transition to alternative fuels depends on many factors outside cruise lines’ control, such as the availability of new fuels at an economically viable price. Describing hydrogen and ammonia as currently unrealistic for the sector, he explains why the company has opted for the LNG pathway, with 10 LNG-capable ships in its fleet and 8 more expected to be delivered by 2033.
    Finally, he reflects on how Carnival Corporation’s experience with shore power development revealed the importance of a long-term vision and collaboration to achieve progress on decarbonisation.
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    22 mins
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