A coalition of more than 50 shipping industry stakeholders is calling for a faster adoption of zero-emission fuels, favoring hydrogen as an alternative to diesel, and pushing for a doubling in green hydrogen production by 2030. 

The coalition signed onto a call to action at the November 11-22 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, demanding "bolder action" to ramp up research and investments to decarbonize the global shipping industry. According to a release from Lloyd's Register — one of the signatories on the call to action — the group says that coordinated action across supply chains is needed to expand the supply of green shipping fuels, with a focus on hydrogen power.

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water, using renewable electricity, causing significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than production of grey hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels without carbon capture.

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"One of the biggest tasks ahead of us is developing a robust and reliable green hydrogen supply chain to deliver zero carbon fuels to vessels in key maritime hubs in ways that are safe, sustainable and that benefit all shipping stakeholders, particularly seafarers and port communities," Lloyd's Register managing director James Forsdyke said.

The coalition is hoping to have zero or near-zero emission technologies make up 5-10% of the maritime industry's fuel and energy sources by 2030. As part of that initiative, ship owners and operators are vowing to increase investments in zero emission vessels, while equipment manufacturers say that they will accelerate research and development on hydrogen-powered machinery. 

Other suggested alternatives to diesel fuel are biofuels, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, nuclear and even wind. All come with their own challenges.