by The Editorial Team
The green transition is no longer a question of intent, but of execution, credibility and scale, emphasised experts in our special column. Decarbonisation is inevitable, but complex and it cannot succeed in silos.
The green transition is no longer a question of intent, but of execution, credibility and scale, emphasised experts in our special column. Decarbonisation is inevitable, but complex and it cannot succeed in silos.
Industry voices stressed that sustainability must be addressed across the full lifecycle of a vessel—from design and fuel choices to real-world operations, digital optimization, and responsible recycling, Narrow, fuel-only approaches are no longer sufficient; instead, the transition requires flexible pathways that balance climate ambition with commercial viability, safety and operational reality.
The perspectives gathered reflect a sector navigating regulatory uncertainty and. fragmented frameworks, alongside rising expectations from cargo owners, financiers and society. Yet there is strong confidence that progress is achievable through collaboration, transparent data, pragmatic use of existing solutions, and continued investment in people, technology and infrastructure. Together, these insights point to 2026 as a pivotal year, When shipping must move from fragmented initiatives to coordinated, evidence-based action delivering measurable environmental impact.
Through our Industry Voices: A Maritime Wish-List for 2026 series, contributors from across the global maritime ecosystem share a collective vision for a safer, smarter, more sustainable and people-centred maritime future, where decarbonisation is central to long-term competitiveness.
SAFETY4SEA would like to express gratitude to alt maritime experts who participated in our special column. We appreciate their valuable feedback and commitment to raising awareness towards a more sustainable industry.
Read their key messages in alphabetical order:
Andreas Chrysostomou, Executive Director, Clean Shipping Alliance
In 2026,
We should continue to take à practical, evidence-based approach to reducing emissions by advancing transitional technologies that deliver immediate, measurable benefits while the industry works toward long term fuel solutions. Systems such as Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) already achieve substantial reductions in sulphur and particulate emissions and, on a well-to-wake basis, have lower CO2 impacts than the main low-sulphur alternatives. They are also an essential pre-treatment step for future carbon-capture integration, meaning continued deployment today builds the foundations for tomorrows decarbonization pathways.
We should tet go of assumptions or restrictions that are not supported by robust science. Independent and government-led studies consistently show that compliant EGCS vashwater meets major international water-quality standards and poses negligible environmental risk under normal discharge conditions. Regulatory decisions should reflect the full body of evidence, not narrow dataset or precautionary concern that have not been validated through formal IMO risk and impact assessment.
We should strive to achieve a globally aligned regulatory framework that supports early adopters and encourages continued investment in cleaner operations and proven abatement technologies as part of a balanced, long-term decarbonization pathway. This includes safeguarding the principle that technologies approved by the IMO (like EGCS) should not be inconsistently and arbitrarily penalized at local or regional levels without conducting in-depth local research, including a full risk assessment as required under IMO Guidelines MEPC.1/Circ.899, and ensuring that decisions consider both near-term air-quality gains and the well-to-wake emissions context.
We can succeed by anchoring policy in credible science and maintaining a coherent, international approach to environmental regulation. The extensive new EGCS dataset now Submitted to the IMO in support of GESAMP’s ongoing work on updated emission factors, alongside other first-hand data and scientific contributions from industry, academia and governments using standard, IMO-recognized methods, offers a strong foundation for local research and globally consistent decision-making.
Industry’s outlook for 2026
“2026 will be a year defined by pragmatic progress.”
The industry recognizes that alternativo fuels vel take time to mature, yet the need to reduce CO2 and other emissions remains, The outlook is therefore one of balanced progress: pairing long-term by ambition with practical, evidence-based actions that deliver real improvements today, supported by technologies – like EGCS – that already demonstrate strong emissions performance with no adverse impact on the marine environment
Originally published at: https://safety4sea.com/cm-industry-voices-a-2026-wish-list-for-greener-shipping/6/