On 24 February 2022, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and the Mærsk McKinney-Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping announced the signing of a Knowledge Partnership Agreement, formalizing the two centres’ commitment to a long-term strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.
The new partnership enables the sharing of knowledge and best practices, and provides new opportunities to explore the potential for low- and zero-carbon technologies by combining the capabilities and resources of the two centres.
“Collaboration is key in accelerating the industry towards its net-zero vision and we are delighted to partner with the Maersk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. We see our work in deploying solutions and financing projects as complementing the Maersk Center’s research and analyses. Learnings from our pilots and trials can be inputs for future research forming a feedback loop to refine to the sector’s projected pathways to net-zero”, said the CEO of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Professor Lynn Loo. The CEO of the Mærsk McKinney-Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Bo Cerup-Simonsen, also expressed his satisfaction with the new partnership:
“We are very happy to welcome the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation as a Knowledge Partner. We are facing a systemic and industry-wide transformation, and by collaborating with the GCMD, we are significantly increasing our chances for accelerating the transition. (…) Located in Singapore, the world’s largest fuelling hub, one of the largest ports, and in the middle of a strong eco-system, the GCMD provides significant complementary strengths. We need all hands on deck, and this partnership is great news for the mission we are on - we are eager to collaborate on selected projects.”
About the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation was established on 1 August 2021 with funding from the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore and six other founding partners. The centre’s mission is to help reduce the carbon emissions of the maritime industry as quickly as possible. This goal is to be achieved by shaping standards, deploying solutions, financing projects, and fostering collaboration across sectors.
Due to the centre’s strategic location in Singapore, which is the world’s largest maritime fuelling hub and one of the largest container ports in the world, the centre is in a position to coordinate regional and global decarbonisation efforts.
At present, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation focuses on the following three aspects of decarbonisation:
Alternative fuels
Alternative energy converters
Technical and operational initiatives
Current projects
In January 2022, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation awarded a study on ammonia bunkering safety to a DNV-led consortium, with Surbana Jurong and the Singapore Maritime Academy as partners. The study is expected to take 10-12 months to complete, and will play a key part in the transition towards low/zero-carbon fuels and technologies.
As ammonia is one of the promising alternative fuel solutions available, the aim of the study is to address the supply chain-related gaps to ensure that green ammonia can be safely used by the maritime industry. This includes, among others, global green production capacity and supply, bunkering standards and procedures around safety as well as the overall impact to the marine environment. A successful trial of ammonia in the port of Singapore has the potential to set a high standard and instil confidence that bunkering of green ammonia can be conducted in other seaports around the world.
As part of the study, an Industry Consultation and Alignment Panel (iCAP) has been set up to provide input and feedback to the recommendations that the study will propose, before the study is finalized in a report and presented to regulators. It is possible to participate in the iCAP by registering here.
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation is expected to have its first pilot ready in the end of 2023, pending the completion of the study on ammonia bunkering safety. In the meantime, the centre is exploring other decarbonisation solutions with various industry partners.
If you seek support for demonstration and piloting of solutions for international shipping, which have potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions when deployed at scale in the maritime sector, it is possible to contact the centre here.
Contact the Royal Danish Embassy in Singapore for more information about business opportunities and how Denmark seeks to inspire green transition in Southeast Asia:
Mark Edward Perry
Head of Trade at the Royal Danish Embassy in Singapore
Phone: +65 9088 5567
Email: markpe@um.dk