By
Alice Chambers |
Maritime leaders convened at Royal Caribbean Group’s Decarbonization Summit to discuss how technology advancement, alternative fuel options and policy development could help them to achieve their decarbonisation goals.
The three-day event was hosted onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas in collaboration with Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. It was attended by over 70 leaders from across the maritime industry, including fuel providers, technology developers, shipbuilders and ship operators.
“Achieving net zero is not something any one company can do alone – it requires collective problem solving, creative thinking and a willingness to have tough conversations,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “This week we have put steps in place to catalyse an open dialogue that will foster the thinking necessary to develop an environment where net zero is attainable and sustainable.”
Attendees discussed the creation of an independent network or platform to share their decarbonisation progress with each other. They also advocated for an independent, third-party platform to consolidate low-carbon fuel demand by location and more readily accessible fuel infrastructure that would enable the industry to better prepare for alternative fuel supply. Plus, leaders agreed on the need for a set of principles to support the industry’s shared goal for decarbonisation.
“The shipping industry is in a critically important phase where the pathway to a sustainable future is now being shaped by concrete plans and actions,” said Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. “The cruise industry faces its own needs and opportunities on the road to decarbonisation but also holds a lot of valuable insights that can benefit of the rest of the maritime industry. With this event Royal Caribbean Group demonstrates exemplary first-mover leadership by taking responsibility beyond their own agenda, fostering important in-depth discussions, collaboration, knowledge sharing and action across the ecosystem to further strengthen the acceleration towards a decarbonised maritime industry.”
Cerup-Simonsen led a workshop session on zero-carbon shipping at the event
“We do not compete on safety, and we need to take the very same ‘all ships rise’ approach with our sustainability efforts,” said Palle Laursen, executive vice president of marine at Royal Caribbean Group. “The road to achieving the cruise industry’s net zero goals is better paved through knowledge-sharing, collective innovation and problem-solving and as one unified voice for policy guidelines and action.”
From left: Dana Ritzcovan, executive vice president and chief people and outreach officer at Royal Caribbean Group, Cerup-Simonsen and Laursen led the keynote address on ‘Maritime Decarbonization: Setting the Stage for 2050’