About this Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT)

Shipping's decarbonization journey is already underway and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from international shipping under Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), Data Collection System (DCS) which has developed into the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirement in January 2023. 

On 7^th July 2023, during the Marine Environment Protection Committee 80^th session (MEPC 80), IMO adopted an ambitious reduction mandate in GHG emissions by bringing into force, well to wake targets by year 2030 a reduction of 20% striving to 30%; by 2040 a reduction of 70% striving to 80% and by or around 2050 a reduction to net zero compared to 2008 levels.

So far, these targets are only technical measures. At the next IMO (MEPC 81) meeting in April 2024, economic measures and carbon pricing mechanisms will be on the table for discussions with potential planned adoption in 2025 and entry into force in 2027. To make maritime decarbonization a reality, rapid investments in crew training, alternative fuels options and port infrastructure around the world are key essentials. More regulations will be fore-coming and with time running out, everyone and decision makers in the maritime industry need to immediately bring themselves up to speed on the knowledge, safety aspects, available options and feasible solutions on to how to navigate through this Energy Transition era smoothly.

Achieving net-zero emissions in the next decades will be an enormous challenge as the land-based technology of renewal energy or electrification are not directly feasible or adequate for ocean going ships’ power requirements. In this context, a training course on alternative fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, methanol and biofuels become vital for understanding the potential of these fuels, safety measures required, coupled with effective hull designs, operational practices and the implications of the IMO MEPC 80 governing the choices and options in maritime’s decarbonization efforts.