Enabling Net-

Zero Shipping

An Expert Review-

Based Agenda for

Emerging Techno-

Economic and

Policy Research

Discussion Paper

Kannan Govindan, Rubal Dua,

AHM Mehbub Anwar, and Prateek Bansal

October 2024 I Doi: 10.30573/KS--2024-DP46

About KAPSARC

KAPSARC is an advisory think tank within global energy

economics and sustainability providing advisory services to

entities and authorities in the Saudi energy sector to advance

Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and inform global policies through

evidence-based advice and applied research.

This publication is also available in Arabic.

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3Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Key Points

Net-zero shipping is emerging as a global priority, underscored by the

shipping sector’s increasing projected contribution to climate change, making

it critical to understand the emerging associated research priorities. We

outline key techno-economic and policy research priorities for achieving

eective and equitable net-zero shipping. We translate contemporary media

issues to techno-economic and policy research priorities, corroborating the

identiﬁed priorities through the academic literature, and consulting an array of

maritime experts in the ﬁelds of policy, technology, fuel, and infrastructure.

We delineate 11 overarching themes. The top four research

priorities based on expert input are (i) cost-beneﬁt

analyses of port initiatives aimed at facilitating maritime

climate action; (ii) the investment and techno-economic

aspects of onboard carbon capture and alternative

shipping fuels, along with green shipping corridors’

Figure1. Graphical abstract.

Ports’ contribution to decarbonizing shipping

Evaluating the economic and environmental impacts of

decarbonizing the maritime sector through port initiatives such as

onshore power supply, alternative fuels infrastructure, just-in-time

port arrivals, and estimating potential avoided econ

omic losses for

ports, shippers, and carriers due to climate change mitigation.

Alternative approaches and fuels for addressing shipping

GHG emissions

Techno-economic analysis of alternative fuels, onboard carbon

capture feasibility, investment estimates for 2050 targets, and

stakeholder engagement in developing green shipping corridor

International IMO negotiations on carbon pricing for shipping

Analyzing the challenges to global cooperation on shipping carbon

pricing, estimating the carbon prices needed to reach net-zero

shipping by 2050, assessing the socioeconomic and distributional

impacts across different countries, and the potential for directing

revenue generated from carbon pricing to support climate finance

in developing economies.

Incorporation of maritime transport into the EU’s Emissions

Trading System (ETS)

Analyzing the inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS, covering

stakeholder negotiations, shipowners’ awareness, its impacts on

costs, trade, and inflation, its effects on carbon credit market

dynamics, and a cost-benefit review of

compliance versus evasion

strategies such as avoiding EU ports.

Source: KAPSARC.

4Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

potential to facilitate alternative fuel adoption; and (iii and

iv) the complex interaction of climate, economic, and

socio-political factors in implementing shipping carbon

pricing as part of the ongoing negotiations at the

International Maritime Organization (IMO), and shipping’s

inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

These outlined priorities could guide future industry and

academic research in generating actionable

recommendations for policymakers and industry

stakeholders and expediting the formulation of focused

approaches for an equitable transition to net-zero

shipping.

5Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Introduction

Without eective mitigation strategies, the shipping sector, which currently

contributes approximately 2%-3% to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,

faces a potentially signiﬁcant increase in emissions. There is a growing

aspiration within the shipping sector to reach net-zero GHG emissions to align

with other sectoral eorts to limit global warming. Notably, recent

developments involving the adoption of an enhanced common ambition by

member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reach net-

zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050

underscore the growing sense of urgency (Gualandi 2023a). As countries

work toward fulﬁlling these obligations, it becomes imperative to identify and

deeply investigate emerging issues on the pathways to achieving net-zero

shipping. This identiﬁcation process is key to strategically allocating resources

and eorts toward developing eective approaches to achieving carbon

neutrality in maritime transport.

In this work, we aim to shed light on the emerging

techno-economic and policy research priorities in this

critical area. We accomplish this by combining insights

from recent academic research on contemporary thematic

issues identiﬁed in media reports and consultations with a

diverse range of experts. Our endeavor not only marks a

novel contribution to the discourse but also invites further

exploration and debate on how best to navigate the

complex pathway toward sustainable maritime transport.

The identiﬁed priorities oer valuable direction for

prospective research endeavors within both the academic

and industrial spheres that could create practical

suggestions for decision-makers and those involved in

the shipping industry. Moreover, we envision that our

insights could act as a catalyst for contemplation among

those in charge of directing research funding,

encouraging a thoughtful consideration of the research

priorities we identify, and helping to shape future research

agendas.

In considering the landscape of contemporary research, it

becomes evident that insights from experts have been

instrumental in identifying and prioritizing emerging

research across diverse ﬁelds. Notable applications of

expert input-based prioritization of emerging research

include blue carbon science (Macreadie etal. 2019), smart

energy systems (Robison etal. 2023), oshore

decommissioning strategies (Watson etal. 2023),

governance of high seas (Jarvis and Young 2023),

hydropeaking impacts (Hayes etal. 2023), sustainable

supply-chain management (Reee and Sundaram 2017),

and the eects of plastic pollution on biota (Provencher

etal. 2020), among others. Such precedents underscore

the relevance and applicability of expert input-based

identiﬁcation and prioritization of emerging research

issues. Besides such limited and emerging literature, it is

worth acknowledging that the practice of delineating

future research agendas often occupies only a modest

space in the conclusion sections of academic works.

These agendas tend to focus narrowly on the speciﬁc

sub-themes investigated, potentially overlooking broader

or interconnected issues. This approach, while grounded

in the authors’ expertise, might beneﬁt from a more

collaborative validation process involving a wider array of

experts. Equally important is the need for dialogue on

how these future research directions align with the needs

and perspectives of non-academic stakeholders, who are

integral to addressing the sector’s contemporary

6Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

challenges. This work addresses this gap by transforming

current media-reported issues, which include the

perspectives of non-academic stakeholders, into

emerging research priorities, corroborated by academic

literature, and prioritized through consultations with a

diverse range of maritime sector experts.

The research agenda for enabling shipping

decarbonization is emerging as a vibrant and pressing

topic, with a growing body of scholars keenly

investigating pivotal questions that underscore the latest

research and development trends in this up-and-coming

domain. Wang, Cheng, and Zhen (2023) have delved into

the areas of green shipping management and green port

construction, seeking to identify future research

opportunities that could enhance operational eciency,

reduce emissions, and contribute to the realization of net

zero emissions through technological innovation and

optimization strategies. Similarly, Chen, Zheng, and Sys

(2023) have focused on the designs, impacts, and future

research avenues of market-based measures that could

facilitate shipping decarbonization, employing quantitative

reviews and bibliometric analysis to map out existing

research. Furthermore, Zhou, Li, and Yuen (2023) have

highlighted the interrelationship between environmental

and social pillars within sustainable shipping, alongside

investment strategies, risk assessment, and the impacts of

post-pandemic conditions as critical future research

directions. The concept of ‘green shipping corridors’

(GSC) as a means of decarbonizing the maritime industry

has been scrutinized by Song etal. (2023), who consider

the current developments, key challenges, and future

directions from a stakeholder’s perspective. Alamoush,

Ölçer, and Ballini (2022a) have examined the role of policy

instruments and tools implemented by ports and public

authorities to reduce port GHG emissions. They also

propose further research on enhancing GHG emission

reductions in port settings. Lastly, Romano and Yang

(2021) have systematically reviewed the evolution of the

shipping industry’s decarbonization eorts from 2000 to

2020, outlining key developments and directions for

future research.

This paper builds on existing research and distinguishes

itself by emphasizing a broader scope of techno-

economic and policy research priorities for enabling

net-zero GHG emissions in shipping. It delves into the

contemporary challenges identiﬁed through media

reports and validated by academic literature, with a

distinct focus on expert consultations to prioritize

research areas. Unlike other studies that primarily focus

on literature reviews, this paper’s three-pronged

approach ensures that its research agenda is informed by

practical considerations, providing a unique blend of

academic and non-academic stakeholders’ perspectives

on shipping decarbonization, and integrating diverse

contemporary themes. This approach ensures that the

agenda covers a broad spectrum of contemporary issues

relevant to achieving net-zero shipping, providing a

roadmap for future research that is both broad and deep.

7Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Background and

Literature Review

We provide a summary of the relevant grey and academic literature clustered

by themes.1 In particular, each theme features a succinct evaluation of

pertinent media articles. We also provide speciﬁc examples of relevant

research questions investigated in the academic literature in relation to the

emerging issues concerning net-zero shipping. The derived condensed and

organized themes could serve as a valuable resource for time-constrained

individuals seeking a concise and broad overview of the emerging net-zero

shipping discourse.

Theme 1:

International IMO

Negotiations on

Carbon Pricing for

Shipping

The reports within this theme underscore the critical need

for a uniﬁed approach to carbon pricing under the

auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)

(Garside 2022). They also highlight the beneﬁcial eects

carbon pricing can have in advancing the shift toward

cleaner fuel options and supporting climate initiatives in

developing nations (Kiernan 2022c). Furthermore, they

bring to light the economic considerations and obstacles

associated with decarbonizing maritime transport,

including the essential role of a signiﬁcant carbon levy

(Manuell 2022a) and worries about the possible

repercussions of this levy on costs (Manuell 2022b).

Academic inquiry in this domain, as explored by Mundaca,

Strand, and Young (2021), revolves around the

ramiﬁcations of instituting a carbon tax. This research

notably delves into the consequential eects of a carbon

tax on global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the

international trade dynamics within the maritime sector.

Complementing this perspective, Rojon etal. (2021) focus

on the implications of carbon pricing on maritime

transport costs. Their investigation is particularly insightful

in elucidating the resultant impacts of carbon pricing on

developing economies, a critical consideration given the

global nature of shipping. Further enriching this discourse,

Dominioni (2023) probes the strategies that could

facilitate an equitable decarbonization of international

maritime transport. This includes examining the strategic

utilization of carbon revenues and potential exemptions,

highlighting the complexities and nuances involved in

transitioning toward a more sustainable maritime sector.

1 The methods section provides an explanation of how the clustered themes are derived.

8Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Theme 2: Issues,

Collaborations, and

Perspectives Inside

and Outside the

IMO’s Scope

The investigations in this theme examine the

eectiveness and perception of IMO regulations aimed at

reducing carbon emissions from ships (Gualandi 2023b).

They also explore the need for a just shift toward

decarbonization, prioritizing the needs of emerging and

at-risk countries (Monahan 2022). Additionally, the media

reports investigate the current debate over the

implementation of green shipping corridors and their

possible economic implications (Garside 2023a).

In addressing the theme of decarbonizing global shipping,

the academic literature oers a spectrum of inquiries and

discussions. Bach and Hansen (2023) delve into the

complexities that the IMO faces in crafting consistent and

thorough policies for the decarbonization of the shipping

industry. Another pivotal question, raised by Chen (2021),

examines the delicate balance between the principles of

common but dierentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and no

more favorable treatment (NMFT) in regulating these

emissions. Chen’s work is particularly insightful in

understanding how developing nations can implement

these regulations eectively. Furthermore, the work of

Gritsenko (2017) broadens this discussion by evaluating

the dierent approaches to regulating GHG emissions in

the shipping sector. This research compares the merits

and challenges of global, regional, and polycentric

governance models, oering a nuanced view of the

multi-layered governance needed to tackle this global

issue. Lastly, Wang, Daoutidis, and Zhang (2023)

contribute a forward-looking perspective by investigating

the potential of ammonia-based green corridors. Their

research is pivotal in understanding how these corridors

can be designed and implemented, providing a tangible

solution to support sustainable maritime transportation.

Theme 3: Alternative

Approaches and

Fuels for Addressing

Shipping GHG

Emissions

The focus of the discussion within this theme revolves

around the shipping industry’s readiness to embrace

alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol,

and electricity, taking into account pricing factors

(Gualandi 2023d). It also examines advancements in

onboard carbon capture technologies aimed at lowering

emissions (Kiernan 2022g) and evaluates the

eectiveness of establishing green shipping lanes

(Kiernan 2022h). Furthermore, it highlights the economic

considerations of decarbonization, stressing the need for

signiﬁcant investment in ship construction powered by

clean energy sources and the enhancement of

infrastructure to support the production and distribution of

carbon-neutral fuels (Kiernan 2022i).

In the academic literature, Xing etal. (2021) delve into the

potential pathways for achieving low-carbon maritime

transportation, emphasizing the role alternative fuels can

play. This line of inquiry is extended by Al-Enazi etal.

(2021), who scrutinize cleaner fuel options for maritime

transport, alongside the technical and ﬁnancial challenges

inherent to their comprehensive adoption. Stolz etal.

(2022) contribute to this discourse by examining the

techno-economic dimensions of utilizing renewable fuels,

speciﬁcally in the context of ships transporting bulk cargo

within Europe. Further technological advancements are

explored by Ros etal. (2022), who focus on the

development of ship-based carbon capture technology,

particularly on liquiﬁed natural gas (LNG)-fueled vessels.

Complementing these technological and operational

perspectives, Krantz, Søgaard, and Smith (2020) provide

a macroscopic view, estimating the scale of investment

necessary between 2030 and 2050 to reach the IMO’s

ambitious target of slashing carbon emissions from

shipping by at least 50% by 2050.

9Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Theme 4: LNG: A

Transitional

Shipping Fuel

The reporting under this theme investigates the number

of recently ordered ships powered by liquiﬁed natural gas

(LNG) (Kiernan 2022e). It delves into the risk associated

with these ships potentially becoming stranded assets

and considers the increasing economic feasibility of

zero-emission fuel alternatives, such as green hydrogen

and ammonia (Kiernan 2022e). The reporting includes an

analysis of the maritime sector’s focus on dierent

endeavors and partnerships aimed at tackling methane

emissions and formulating both assessment and reduction

approaches (Manuell 2022c).

Research work, such as Livaniou and Papadopoulos

(2022), attempts to better understand the potential for

LNG to replace conventional marine fuels, namely heavy

fuel oil and marine diesel oil. Livaniou and Papadopoulos

(2022) assess LNG’s eectiveness in contributing to the

decarbonization of the international transport sector. The

work of Balcombe etal. (2021) complements this inquiry

by examining the implications of methane emissions from

LNG-fueled ships. Their investigation is pivotal in

determining whether LNG, despite its potential beneﬁts,

can truly meet the stringent decarbonization targets set

for the shipping industry.

Theme 5: Shipping

Companies’

Strategies for

Attaining Net-Zero

GHG Emissions

The discussions under this theme center on the strategic

application of improvements in eciency and the

adoption of cleaner energy sources as pivotal steps

toward minimizing emissions. They also focus on the role

of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies in balancing

out any residual emissions (Kiernan 2023). The discourse

further sheds light on the formation of strategic

partnerships between maritime companies and tech

companies, aiming to leverage technological innovations

that boost operational ecacy and lessen the ecological

footprint of the shipping industry (Carbon Pulse 2023b).

Moreover, the practice of integrating carbon pricing into

shipping contracts is gaining momentum. This approach

encourages shipping ﬁrms to surpass emission reduction

benchmarks, thereby securing additional business

opportunities, while those falling short may lose future

freight contracts (Carbon Pulse 2023a).

Within the academic literature on this theme, Bouman

etal. (2017) have explored the potential of state-of-the-art

technologies and measures to reduce GHG emissions in

shipping. Their investigation extends to understanding

how combinations of individual reduction measures can

lead to signiﬁcant emission reductions within the sector.

Another critical aspect is the impact of maritime

decarbonization on the cost of shipping goods. UNCTAD

(2023) focuses on this area, including examining the

measures necessary to ensure a just and equitable

net-zero transition. This includes addressing the diverse

impacts of the transition on emerging economies and less

developed countries.

Theme 6: Osetting

Carbon Emissions:

Strategies for

Reducing Maritime

Carbon Footprints

and Creating Osets

via Shipping

Initiatives

This theme primarily explores the ecacy and

dependability of carbon-neutral shipping practices, which

involve carbon oset mechanisms. It also includes

reporting on issues associated with greenwashing, the

accuracy of emissions data, and the standards for

emissions reporting (Kiernan 2022b). Furthermore, it

delves into the consequences of low assessments of

carbon oset projects aimed at enhancing the energy

10Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

eciency of ships, as evaluated by rating agencies,

focusing particularly on how these assessments aect

regulatory measures (Garside 2023b). Additionally, the

examination under this theme extends to the recent

cooperative eorts between technology suppliers,

maritime transport ﬁrms, and stakeholders in the carbon

trading market.

Central to the academic discourse surrounding carbon

osetting is the exploration of how carbon osets can be

utilized eectively to decarbonize freight transport

generally, thereby accelerating the transition toward a

more sustainable and environmentally responsible global

transport network (Greene and Façanha 2019). There is a

growing body of literature that critically examines the

limitations and potential pitfalls associated with carbon-

neutral shipping options and carbon oset programs. This

scrutiny, echoed in reports such as those by The New

York Times (Okamoto 2022), challenges the ecacy of

these programs and calls for a deeper understanding of

their implications.

Theme 7:

Incorporating

Maritime Transport

Into the EU’s

Emissions Trading

System (ETS)

The subject matter under this theme encompasses

discussions regarding legislative deliberations among the

European Council, the European Parliament, and the

European Commission concerning the incorporation of

shipping into the European Union Emissions Trading

System (EU ETS) (Gualandi 2022a). Moreover, there seems

to be a dearth of awareness among shipowners regarding

the forthcoming changes (Gualandi 2023c). The

discussions explore the potential ramiﬁcations of the

integration of shipping into the EU ETS, including issues

such as inﬂationary pressures (Gourlay 2022b), alterations

in trade routes as vessels seek to circumvent carbon

expenses by avoiding EU ports (Kiernan 2022d), and the

impact on EU ETS carbon prices (Gualandi 2022b).

Within the recent academic discourse on incorporating

maritime transport into the EU ETS, Wang etal. (2021)

have scrutinized the operational implications for shipping

companies, and Christodoulou etal. (2021) have

concentrated on the direct economic repercussions on

the maritime sector. Research by Lagouvardou and

Psaraftis (2022) focuses on a more speciﬁc aspect of the

maritime sector, European container routes, examining

the likelihood of container vessels altering their port calls

to evade the ETS and the consequent risk of carbon

leakage. Vierth etal. (2024) explore the impact of the

European Commission’s ‘Fit for 55’ climate policy

package (including extending the EU ETS to shipping,

among other industries) on cargo ships calling at Swedish

ports. They examine the cost implications and changes in

freight transport behavior under dierent ETS inclusion

and marine fuel taxation scenarios. Wu, Liu, and Li (2024)

explore the strategic options available to competitive

ocean carriers for evading the EU ETS, and how these

strategies could impact both the carriers and the

eectiveness of the EU ETS in reducing carbon

emissions. Wu etal. (2022) provide a broader

perspective by dissecting the drivers, challenges, and

overall impacts of including the shipping sector in the EU

ETS. Finally, Goyal and Llop (2024) explore the short-term

economic and environmental impacts of extending the

EU ETS to the shipping industry, and these impacts could

vary among the dierent stakeholders within and outside

the EU.

Theme 8: FuelEU

Maritime:

Regulations,

Objectives, and

Advancing

Sustainable Fuel

Usage

This theme covers the FuelEU Maritime program,

including its stipulations, aims, and endeavors in

advocating for the adoption of environmentally friendly

fuel within the maritime sector. The literature includes

discussions on the provisional accord forged by

representatives from the European Council and the

European Parliament, and a fuel benchmark for ships with

the aim of curbing the emissions intensity of onboard

energy consumption (Barbiroglio 2023).

11Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Christodoulou and Cullinane (2022) explore viable

alternative fuel pathways within the context of the FuelEU

Maritime initiative, assessing their impact on both fuel

consumption and CO2 emissions within the European

shipping sector. Malmborg (2023) conducted an analysis

of the inﬂuence of advocacy coalitions in shaping policy

dynamics, speciﬁcally in the case of the FuelEU Maritime

Regulation.

Theme 9: Integrating

Shipping Fuels

Within Low Carbon

Fuel Standards

This theme pertains to the extension of low carbon fuel

standards (LCFS) to include marine and aviation fuels

across various regions. This has been legislated for in

British Columbia, Canada, with the objective to encourage

the uptake of low-carbon fuels within these sectors

(Varela 2022).

Recent research, particularly Mandegari etal. (2023), has

focused on exploring the integration of marine fuels within

the ambit of LCFS. Central to this inquiry is the

identiﬁcation of potentially lower carbon-intensive fuel

alternatives, speciﬁcally tailored to the marine sector in

British Columbia.

Theme 10: Ports’

Contribution to

Decarbonizing

Shipping

The investigations under this theme examine the pivotal

role of ports in mitigating carbon emissions in maritime

transportation and addressing the shipping sector’s

environmental footprint. The inquiries scrutinize the

ecacy of ports in fostering the industry’s shift toward

sustainability through the provision of infrastructure for

alternative fuels, including hydrogen-based refueling

systems and electriﬁcation options at port terminals

(Kiernan 2022f). Moreover, they underscore the escalating

costs associated with climate change impacts on

seaports, which are anticipated to surge signiﬁcantly by

2050 (Kiernan 2022f). The inquiries also explore port-

centric strategies aimed at curbing GHG emissions from

shipping, such as optimizing vessel speeds to achieve

just-in-time port arrivals (Gourlay 2022a).

Among recent academic inquiries, Alamoush, Ölçer, and

Ballini (2022b) examine ways ports can actively facilitate

the reduction of GHG emissions, thereby supporting the

decarbonization of the shipping sector. Yu, Tang, and Song

(2022) explore how the integration of vessel speed

optimization with berth allocation and quay crane

assignment (considering vessel service dierentiation) can

reduce service delays, fuel consumption, and emissions.

Jia etal. (2017) examine the potential for reducing fuel

consumption and emissions through the implementation of

a ‘just in time’ arrival strategy in ports, highlighting the

signiﬁcant operational changes that could contribute to

more sustainable maritime logistics. Song etal. (2022)

investigate the impact of government subsidies on the

strategies of shipping companies regarding the use of

shore power in ports. Wu and Wang (2020) explore how

governments can develop subsidy programs that

incorporate shore power to maximize the reduction of

at-berth emissions from ships in a container shipping

network. Zhen, Wang, and Lin (2022) investigate how

government subsidy-based and berthing-priority-based

incentive policies can impact the deployment of ship-

borne power-receiving systems for reducing emissions

near ports. The extent to which global port operations are

at risk due to climate change is a topic explored by

Izaguirre etal. (2021). They assess the potential impacts of

climate change on ports worldwide under a high-end

warming scenario projected for the year 2100.

Theme 11:

Accounting and

Verifying GHG

Emissions From

Shipping

This line of investigation delves into GHG emissions

accounting and authentication within the maritime sector.

It looks at the meticulous acquisition of GHG emissions

data, speciﬁcally for methane and carbon dioxide

emissions (Kiernan 2022a). The literature within this theme

12Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

underscores the signiﬁcance of accurate measurements

and thorough documentation in emissions accounting and

authentication.

A pivotal research question in this domain, as investigated

by Smit etal. (2022), revolves around the ecacy of

energy-based ship emission models. This line of inquiry

critically examines the performance of these models by

juxtaposing their outcomes with the results obtained from

on-board emissions testing and data from the Automatic

Identiﬁcation System (AIS). Lastly, Yan, Wang, and

Psaraftis (2021) have contributed to the understanding of

the role of data analytics in maritime transportation fuel

consumption management. Their research sheds light on

how data analytics can be instrumental in reducing

emissions and enhancing energy eciency.

13Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Methods

In this section, we identify the key techno-economic and policy research

priorities for enabling net-zero shipping using the approach outlined in

Figure1. Speciﬁcally, we ﬁrst derive our overarching themes by summarizing

and categorizing the wide-ranging scope of recent media investigations into

net-zero shipping.2 We begin with media reports because they frequently

shed light on emerging economic, policy, and sustainability issues before they

are thoroughly investigated in the academic literature. This is due to the

delays involved in obtaining research funding, as well as the time-consuming

peer-review process that characterizes academic publishing. Furthermore,

media reports often include perspectives from non-academic stakeholders,

which are frequently underrepresented in scholarly articles. Finally, we identify

and outline challenges and areas of focus that demand deeper exploration

through applying perspectives from techno-economic and policy research on

the identiﬁed contemporary issues.

We solicited expert opinions to identify the research

priorities. A live expert voting was conducted during a

presentation on this topic at the Transportation Research

Board (TRB) 2024 annual conference in Washington, D.C.,

during a lectern session titled “Research in Maritime

Decarbonization” (TRB 2024). This session, organized by

the TRB Standing Committee on Marine Environment

(AW030), attracted a diverse audience of maritime

researchers, policymakers, practitioners, administrators,

and representatives from government, industry, and

academia. The respondents were requested to assess the

range of research questions discussed in earlier sections

by employing a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 to 5. This

was done to determine their signiﬁcance in facilitating the

achievement of net-zero emissions in the shipping sector.

The participants were also asked to choose one of the

research questions outlined in this study that, in their

opinion, is the most important to address. This is in line

with the established expert voting-based prioritization

method employed across diverse ﬁelds (Roskladka,

Jaegler, and Miragliotta 2023; Lam and Suen 1997;

Watson etal. 2023). Among the respondents who shared

information related to their backgrounds, 18 represented

non-proﬁt organizations while four respondents were

aliated with for-proﬁt entities. More than half of the

surveyed individuals indicated they had a decade of

professional experience in the maritime sector. Utilizing a

familiarity scale, with 1 signifying a minimal understanding

of the study’s research questions and 5 indicating

extensive knowledge, the average rating provided by

these experts was 3.09. Furthermore, when prompted to

identify their areas of focus within the maritime sector,

both present and historically, the distribution was as

follows: policy was indicated by 12 experts, technology by

three, fuels by three, and infrastructure by four.

2 The emerging themes were formulated by performing a thematic analysis of recent shipping and climate reporting from January2022 to May2023in

Carbon Pulse (CP). We analyzed all 90 CP articles using CP’s shipping ﬁlter, turned them into questions, and grouped them by theme. Given the

global nature of the shipping sector, CP’s global coverage, and our focus on questions rather than ﬁndings, we use CP to sample recent media

investigation themes. Since our only goal is to identify key themes by extracting a wide range of questions, the CP articles are considered to provide

a reasonable overview of net-zero shipping themes.

14Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Figure2. Overview of the approach used in this study.

Derive overarching themes by summarizing and categorizing the wide-

ranging scope of recent media invesgaons.

Delineate speciﬁc research priories by applying an energy economics

and policy research lens on the emerging themes.

Validate the idenﬁed emerging research issues with the literature.

Solicit expert opinions to priorize the idenﬁed research quesons

during a presentaon at a lectern session at the Transportaon

Research Board (TRB) 2024 annual conference in Washington, D.C.

Source: KAPSARC analysis.

15Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Results

In this section, we delineate the speciﬁc research questions that demand

further in-depth examination. We achieve this by applying a comprehensive

techno-economic and policy research perspective to the identiﬁed emerging

themes, encompassing both academic and industrial viewpoints. Additionally,

we specify the prioritization of the identiﬁed research areas, drawing upon

insights from experts in the maritime sector. In particular, we detail the

distribution of respondents’ evaluations regarding the importance of each set

of thematic research priorities.

This analysis is presented on a predeﬁned importance

scale of 1 (very low) to 5 (very high). We also look at the

distribution of importance ratings from two categories of

expertise: (i) policy, and (ii) combined infrastructure,

technology, and fuels. Furthermore, we present the

percentage distribution of votes for the research

prioritized through expert voting. The voting percentages

are shown as a range, including an unweighted

distribution, which considers all votes equally, and a

weighted distribution, which is adjusted according to the

experts’ familiarity with the research topics.

16Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Emerging Areas

of Research

Theme 1:

International IMO

Negotiations on

Carbon Pricing for

Shipping

Areas of future inquiry could center around the

development of eective strategies for global cooperation

in the enforcement and management of shipping carbon

pricing mechanisms. Another pivotal aspect of this

discourse is exploring how revenue generated from

shipping carbon pricing may be used strategically to

enhance ﬁnancial support for climate-related projects in

emerging markets, thereby contributing to a more

equitable global response to climate change. There is also

an urgent need to estimate the shipping carbon prices that

would be necessary to achieve the IMO’s ambitious targets

of making the shipping sector net-zero by 2050. Finally, a

comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic and

distributive consequences of applying carbon pricing to the

maritime transportation sector is imperative. This

assessment should elucidate the varied implications of

shipping carbon pricing for dierent countries.

Figure3a reveals that a signiﬁcant majority (80%) of the

respondents assigned a “high” or greater level of

importance to the research related to global IMO

negotiations on shipping carbon pricing. It also shows

considerable variation across the two expert categories.

Speciﬁcally, 63% of policy experts rated the subject matter

as being of high or greater importance, in contrast to 90%

of experts within the combined category of infrastructure,

technology, and fuels. This distinction is illustrated in

Figure3b. Furthermore, when asked to identify their top

priority topic, this theme emerged as joint-third among the

diverse research areas highlighted in this paper, receiving

backing from 5%-9% of the expert participants.

Theme 2: Issues,

Collaborations, and

Perspective Inside

and Outside the

IMO’s Scope

Assessing the eectiveness and implementation hurdles

associated with current GHG regulations by the IMO

continues to be a critical research priority. This scrutiny is

vital in understanding the gaps and strengths in our

current strategies. Equally important is exploring the

dynamics of consensus building among governments,

which vary widely in their priorities and capabilities,

thereby underscoring the need to ensure a fair

progression toward eliminating GHG emissions from

shipping. Such a transition requires not only global

agreements under the IMO but also the recognition of the

potential impact of country or regional-level eorts.

Localized initiatives could play a pivotal role in achieving

the broader goals of shipping decarbonization.

Additionally, the exploration of smaller-scale green

shipping collaborations, such as green shipping corridors,

merits attention. These collaborations could serve as

critical support mechanisms, reinforcing and potentially

accelerating the impact of global IMO agreements.

Eighty-one percent of respondents rated the importance

of the areas identiﬁed under this theme as “high” or

greater. Approximately 3%-6% of the experts advocated

for the prioritization of the research areas encompassed

by this theme over those identiﬁed in other themes, with

the aim of facilitating the achievement of net-zero

emissions in shipping.

17Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Theme 3: Alternative

Approaches and

Fuels for Addressing

Shipping GHG

Emissions

A key future research area continues to be the techno-

economic analysis of alternative shipping fuels. This

encompasses a detailed examination of production costs,

infrastructure requirements, and the potential for

economies of scale. Simultaneously, evaluating the

ﬁnancial viability of installing carbon capture systems on

maritime vessels presents an intriguing avenue for

research. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of

stakeholder dynamics is essential. This involves scrutinizing

the duties, motivations, beneﬁts, and apprehensions of

dierent parties involved in the establishment of green

shipping lanes that are considered instrumental in

promoting the use of low-carbon shipping fuels. Lastly, a

crucial aspect of this thematic exploration is estimating the

yearly ﬁnancial commitment necessary for the maritime

sector to reach carbon neutrality by the year 2050.

Figure3 highlights that, within the scope of research

areas identiﬁed under this theme, investment and

techno-economic considerations pertaining to alternative

shipping fuels and strategies were deemed signiﬁcantly

critical, receiving a “high” or greater importance rating

from 87% of respondents. Furthermore, when prompted to

prioritize their primary set of research questions, this

theme emerged as the second most critical, securing

25%–33% of expert votes.

Theme 4: LNG: A

Transitional

Shipping Fuel

Future areas of focus could include conducting a

comprehensive evaluation of the economic and

environmental trade-os of using LNG as an interim

energy solution, considering the near-term beneﬁts, such

as immediate emission reductions and fuel eciency

improvements, against the potential long-term costs.

These costs include the risk of stranded assets and the

feasibility of transitioning to low-carbon alternatives in the

future. Another pivotal aspect of research is the techno-

economic analysis of methane slip, a signiﬁcant issue

associated with LNG-fueled ships. This analysis should

explore methods for reducing methane slip and evaluate

their economic viability and eectiveness in mitigating its

environmental impact.

This set of research questions received the lowest

proportion of “high” or greater ratings from survey

participants (29%), ranking it last among the themes

evaluated. In fact, a more or less equal proportion of

respondents, 31%, gave it a “low” or lower importance

rating. Intriguingly, none of the respondents identifying as

experts in the ﬁelds of fuels, technology, and infrastructure

rated the subject matter as being of “high” or greater

importance. This is in contrast to the 27% of policy experts

who assigned it a “high” or greater importance rating.

Furthermore, when participants were asked to identify

their top priority theme, none of them chose this theme.

Theme 5: Strategies

of Shipping

Companies for

Attaining Net-Zero

GHG Emissions

Central to ongoing research is the eectiveness of

shipping companies’ strategies, which encompass

reducing, removing, and osetting emissions, and how

these strategies inevitably interact with shipping costs.

Techno-economic analyses are crucial in establishing how

to reduce energy consumption, lower emission levels, and

improve eciency across maritime operations. It is equally

important to investigate the implementation of carbon

pricing strategies within freight contracts between

shippers and shipping companies. Such an investigation

should not only focus on the motivations for adopting

these mechanisms, but it should also critically evaluate

their associated risks and beneﬁts. It is also imperative to

understand the broader economic and environmental

impacts of these mechanisms.

In assessing the perceived importance of the theme, a

signiﬁcant majority of the respondents (80%) attributed

18Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

a “high” or greater level of importance to it. Yet,

intriguingly, when prompted to identify their top priority,

no respondents selected this option.

Theme 6: Osetting

Carbon Emissions:

Strategies for

Reducing Maritime

Carbon Footprints

and Creating Osets

via Shipping

Initiatives

The eciency and dependability of strategies aiming for

carbon neutrality in the shipping sector through the use of

carbon osets warrant close scrutiny. This research

should also address prevalent concerns such as

greenwashing and the accuracy of emissions data and

reporting practices. Additionally, exploring the

consequences of rating agencies allocating low scores to

carbon oset initiatives aimed at enhancing ship energy

eciency is another avenue for investigation. Another

inquiry could investigate the dynamics and sustainability

of recent partnerships formed between shipping ﬁrms,

technology suppliers, and stakeholders in carbon trading,

as they might be pivotal in establishing a sustainable

maritime carbon osetting ecosystem.

Among the participants, only 45% attributed a “high” or

greater level of importance to the subject in question.

Approximately 30% perceived it to be of “low” or lesser

importance. Consequently, when considering the

proportion of respondents who allocated a “high” or

greater importance rating, this subject emerged as the

second-least prioritized issue within the research areas

we identiﬁed. Moreover, when prompted to identify their

primary set of research questions, none of the

respondents selected this subject.

Theme 7:

Incorporating

Maritime Transport

into the EU’s

Emissions Trading

System (ETS)

One area of future investigation could center around the

complex stakeholder negotiations that are integral to the

inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS. This could involve

delving into the interests, power dynamics, positions, and

strategies for consensus building among various actors.

Additionally, there is a pressing need to assess ship

owners’ understanding of the EU ETS and to develop

eective strategies for raising awareness of it, ensuring

that those at the helm of this change are well-informed

and prepared. Another critical aspect to explore is the

potential impact of this inclusion on various economic

parameters. This includes examining how incorporating

shipping into the EU ETS might inﬂuence trade ﬂows,

freight expenses, and inﬂation, oering a comprehensive

view of the economic repercussions of this policy.

Moreover, the eects of this inclusion on the carbon credit

market are paramount. Research must be conducted to

understand how integrating shipping will aect the supply,

demand, and prices within the carbon credit market, a key

component of the EU ETS. Finally, conducting an

evaluation of the economic implications of the maritime

industry’s adherence to the EU ETS is essential. This

analysis should not only consider the direct ﬁnancial

implications but also explore EU port evasion as a

potential circumvention strategy.

Approximately 50% of the respondents attributed a “high”

or greater level of importance to the issues under this

theme. Nevertheless, when prompted to prioritize their

research questions, it garnered 11%-18% of the votes from

experts, placing it in a tie for third place among the areas

of research identiﬁed in this paper.

19Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Theme 8: FuelEU

Maritime:

Regulations,

Objectives, and

Advancement of

Sustainable Fuel

Usage

Evaluating the feasibility and eectiveness of the FuelEU

Maritime initiative’s provisions and targets, particularly in

the context of promoting clean fuels within the maritime

sector, merits an in-depth investigation.

Over half the respondents (53%) rated the importance of

the research questions under this theme as “high” or

above. However, despite this acknowledgment, none of

the respondents identiﬁed these areas as their foremost

priority.

Theme 9: Integrating

Shipping Fuels

within Low Carbon

Fuel Standards

A critical area of future research that warrants deeper

investigation is the cost ramiﬁcations of adjusting maritime

fuels to align with the carbon intensity thresholds outlined

by LCFS. Roughly 4%-5% of the experts voted in favor of

prioritizing both the research questions identiﬁed in this

theme relative to the other themes in order to enable

net-zero shipping.

Approximately 45% of survey respondents rated these

research questions as of “high” or greater importance,

with approximately 5% indicating them as their foremost

priority among the areas of research identiﬁed in this

paper.

Theme 10: Ports’

Contribution to

Decarbonizing

Shipping

One signiﬁcant area of future research involves

conducting cost-beneﬁt analyses of port initiatives, such

as the implementation of onshore power supply and the

development of infrastructure for alternative fuels.

Additionally, there is an urgent need to estimate the

potential economic losses induced by climate change for

key stakeholders, including ports, shippers, and carriers.

Another area ripe for exploration is the emissions

reduction potential of enhanced collaboration between

vessels, terminals, and ports.

Cost-beneﬁt analyses of initiatives aimed at advancing

maritime climate action have emerged as a signiﬁcant area

of interest, with 82% of respondents attributing a “high” or

greater level of importance to them. Furthermore, this

thematic area of research has been identiﬁed as the most

important: When participants were asked to choose their

single most important set of research questions identiﬁed

in this paper, this topic received between 42% and 53% of

the votes from experts.

Theme 11:

Accounting and

Verifying GHG

Emissions from

Shipping

The emerging research questions associated with this

theme include exploring the various obstacles to eective

GHG emissions accounting in the shipping sector, as well

as developing and reﬁning precise methods and protocols

for measuring and calculating shipping GHG emissions.

A combined 81% of experts rated the importance of

questions within this theme as “high” or greater, positioning

it prominently among the research questions identiﬁed in

this paper. However, intriguingly, when participants were

asked to select just one set of research questions from the

entire set of identiﬁed potential research, none opted for it.

20Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Figure3. (a) Distribution of respondents’ ratings of the importance of exploring each theme/alternative with their speciﬁc

set of research questions. The themes are ranked by the percentage of respondents assigning a “high” or greater

importance level. (b) Distribution of “high” or greater importance ratings by expertise category. Percentage of respondents

who assigned a “high” or greater importance rating to the dierent themes within the two expertise categories: (i) policy,

and (ii) combined infrastructure, technology, and fuels. The themes are displayed with the percentage point dierences

between expert categories decreasing in a clockwise direction. (c) Range of frequency distribution for the research themes

selected by the experts as the most important to address for enabling net-zero shipping, considering the three cases of

equal weights for all respondents, respondent familiarity-based weights, and respondent experience-based weights.

Source: KAPSARC analysis.

21Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Discussion

As can be seen in Figure3, the prioritized emerging research questions are

multifaceted and interlinked. We delineate the implications of these research

topics, emphasizing their intricate interconnections.

22Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Implications of

the Prioritized

Research Areas

Ports’ Contribution to Decarbonizing Shipping:

Cost-beneﬁt analysis of port initiatives: Implementing

onshore power supply and alternative fuel infrastructure

involves signiﬁcant upfront costs but could reduce GHG

emissions and improve local air quality. The challenge lies

in balancing these costs with long-term beneﬁts for the

climate, local environment, and health.

Economic losses from climate change: Ports, shippers,

and carriers face potential operational disruptions and

infrastructure damage due to extreme weather events

and rising sea levels, leading to economic losses.

Estimating these losses is crucial for planning and

investing in resilience measures.

Alternative Fuels and Decarbonization Strategies:

Techno-economic analysis of alternative shipping fuels:

This challenge involves evaluating the cost, availability,

and infrastructure requirements of alternative fuels

compared to conventional fossil fuels. The aim is to

identify the most viable options for scaling up alternative

fuels to meet global shipping energy demand while

considering its environmental impacts.

Onboard carbon capture feasibility: The economic and

technical feasibility of implementing onboard carbon

capture for ships poses signiﬁcant challenges, including

the development of compact, ecient systems suitable

for ships and the storage of captured CO2.

Developing green shipping corridors: This involves

fostering collaboration among stakeholders to create

supply chains that prioritize low-carbon shipping fuels.

The challenge is to align incentives, regulatory

frameworks, and infrastructure investment to support

these corridors.

Investment in decarbonizing the maritime sector:

Estimating and securing the required annual investment

poses a substantial challenge. This involves calculating

the direct costs of fuel transitions and technology

upgrades and mobilizing public and private funding

toward these goals.

International IMO Negotiations on Carbon Pricing for

Shipping:

Global cooperation challenges and strategies: The

primary need is for a uniﬁed global framework that

encourages all countries to participate in carbon pricing

for shipping. This involves navigating geopolitical

interests, diering economic capabilities, and the varying

environmental impacts of shipping across regions.

Eective strategies must address these disparities to

ensure broad and equitable participation.

23Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Directing revenues to support climate ﬁnance in

developing economies: The challenge here is to design

mechanisms that ensure carbon pricing revenues are

used eectively to aid climate adaptation and mitigation in

developing countries. This raises questions about

governance, transparency, and the criteria for allocating

funds, ensuring that the revenue supports those most

aected by climate change and the distributional impacts

of shipping carbon pricing. Furthermore, there is the

question of how to address the hesitancy of developing

countries to engage with such climate ﬁnance promises,

which appears justiﬁable especially considering the

historical context. Previously, developed nations have

made signiﬁcant pledges regarding climate ﬁnance, yet

these promises have frequently failed to materialize within

the speciﬁed timeframes. This pattern has understandably

led to skepticism and caution among developing

countries when considering new commitments or

collaborations in this domain.

Estimating the carbon prices needed to reach net-zero

shipping by 2050: Determining the carbon price required

to reach the IMO’s target of net-zero shipping by 2050

involves the complex modeling of future shipping activity,

fuel prices, and technological advancements. The

challenge is setting a price that is high enough to drive

emission reductions but avoids undue economic harm to

the global shipping sector.

Socioeconomic and distributional impacts: Assessing

these impacts involves understanding how carbon pricing

aects dierent stakeholders, including shipping

companies, countries dependent on maritime trade, and

consumers. The challenge is to implement carbon pricing

in a way that is fair and does not disproportionately

burden developing nations or certain sectors of the

economy.

Incorporation of Maritime Transport Into the EU’s ETS:

Impact on freight costs and trade ﬂows: Including shipping

in the EU ETS could aect freight costs, trade ﬂows, and

inﬂation, necessitating a thorough economic analysis.

Eects on the carbon credit market: This inclusion could

also signiﬁcantly impact the supply, demand, and prices of

EU carbon credits, with implications for the broader

carbon market.

Cost-beneﬁt analysis and evasion strategies: Analyzing

the costs and beneﬁts of compliance versus evasion

strategies like port evasion is critical for understanding

the potential eectiveness and loopholes of including

shipping in the EU ETS.

24Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Interrelationships

Between Prioritized

Research Areas

The areas of research outlined above are interconnected in several ways.

Port Initiatives and the Adoption of Alternative Fuels:

Feedback loop: Ports implementing initiatives such as

onshore power supply and alternative fuel infrastructure

directly facilitate the use of cleaner energy sources by

ships. As the maritime industry shifts toward alternative

fuels, there will be an increased need for ports worldwide

to adapt and provide the necessary infrastructure,

creating a feedback loop that accelerates the adoption of

green shipping practices.

Economic Analyses and Stakeholder Dynamics:

Policy and investment decisions: Techno-economic

analyses of alternative fuels and onboard carbon capture

technologies provide critical data for policymakers and

investors, guiding decisions on where to allocate

resources for maximum impact on decarbonization.

Understanding the economic viability of these

technologies inﬂuences regulatory frameworks and

investment in research and development, shaping the

market for low-carbon shipping solutions.

Stakeholder engagement: Analyses highlighting the roles,

incentives, and concerns of stakeholders across dierent

initiatives such as global shipping carbon pricing, the

inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS, and the development

of green shipping corridors, etc., can foster collaboration

among the dierent stakeholders. By identifying mutual

beneﬁts and addressing shared challenges, these

analyses encourage joint eorts on decarbonization,

enhancing the eectiveness of such initiatives.

Carbon Pricing’s Dual Role: Incentivizing Alternatives and

Funding Investments

The impact of carbon pricing on alternative fuels and

decarbonization: Eective carbon pricing can incentivize

the shift toward alternative fuels and decarbonization

strategies by making carbon-intensive fuels more

expensive. Conversely, the development of alternative

fuels and decarbonization technologies can inﬂuence the

optimal level of carbon pricing needed to achieve

emission reduction targets.

Investment needs and carbon pricing revenue: Revenue

generated from carbon pricing could be a signiﬁcant

source of funding for the investment needed to support

the transition to alternative fuels and onboard carbon

capture technologies. This creates a feedback loop where

eective carbon pricing supports decarbonization eorts,

which in turn can lead to a reduction in carbon prices over

time as emissions decrease.

Global Carbon Pricing and Regional Regulatory Measures:

Complementary and competing eects: The discussion

on global shipping carbon pricing and the inclusion of

shipping in the EU ETS are interrelated through their

potential to set a precedent for international and regional

regulatory approaches. A global carbon pricing

mechanism could inﬂuence or be shaped by the EU’s

eorts, with both sides having the potential to

complement or undermine the other, depending on how

the pricing mechanisms are implemented and aligned.

25Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Climate Finance Redistribution and Socioeconomic

Equity:

Mitigating adverse impacts: The use of carbon pricing

revenue to support climate action in developing

economies will help mitigate its socioeconomic and

distributional impacts. By redirecting funds to support

adaptation and mitigation eorts in developing and

vulnerable regions, these mechanisms can limit the

potential inequalities arising from carbon pricing, ensuring

a more equitable approach to global decarbonization.

Enhancing cooperation: The promise of climate ﬁnance

can also serve as an incentive for broader cooperation

among nations to implement carbon pricing and other

decarbonization strategies. Developing economies, in

particular, may be more willing to engage in and support

global eorts if there are clear mechanisms to support

and compensate for the economic impacts of transition

policies.

Overall, these interrelationships underscore the

complexity of addressing shipping decarbonization in a

holistic manner. To be eective, strategies must consider

the interconnectedness of technological, economic, and

regulatory challenges, and foster cooperation across

sectors and regions to achieve global emissions reduction

targets.

26Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

Concluding Remarks

This paper systematically explores the multifaceted challenges and emerging

research priorities pivotal to enabling net-zero shipping. By delving into

diverse themes, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of

research on net-zero shipping and its possible future directions.

We pinpoint critical emerging challenges using expert

voting-based prioritization. The research areas we

identiﬁed for in-depth exploration include (i) a cost-beneﬁt

analysis of port initiatives like infrastructure for alternative

fuels, onshore power supply, and optimizing port arrivals,

including avoiding economic losses for ports, carriers, and

shippers from climate change-induced impacts; (ii)

investment and techno-economic dimensions of onboard

carbon capture and alternative shipping fuels, as well as

the potential for green shipping corridors to facilitate

alternative fuel adoption; and (iii) the intricate dynamics of

climate, economic, and socio-political elements caused

by the imposition of carbon prices on shipping. These

inquiries would be undertaken within the framework of

the ongoing international negotiations conducted by the

IMO and the inclusion of shipping under the EU ETS.

While this paper oers a broad overview of the issues at

hand, it acknowledges certain limitations. The rapidly

evolving nature of emerging issues in net-zero shipping

means that ﬁndings might require continual updates.

Moreover, the reliance on expert inputs, although

valuable, may not fully capture the diversity of

perspectives in this global industry.

This work contributes to the ﬁeld by oering a structured

framework to analyze and prioritize research areas in

sustainable shipping. It bridges the gap between

academic discourse and practical application. In

particular, the delineated priorities could serve as a

potential roadmap for guiding forthcoming research

endeavors within both the industrial and academic

domains. Research ﬁndings from such initiatives may yield

practical recommendations for policymakers and industry

stakeholders, fostering the formulation of strategies

aimed at expediting an equitable transition toward a

net-zero and resilient shipping sector.

In conclusion, the emerging issues identiﬁed through

journalistic reports, the review of published literature, and

expert consultations provide a solid foundation for

identifying the imperative research priorities necessary to

facilitate net-zero shipping.

27Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

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Notes

34Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

About the Authors

Kannan Govindan

Kannan Govindan is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain

Resilience at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and Chair Professor at the University of

Southern Denmark. His research interests include digital supply chains, industry 4.0 with a focus

on supply chains, sustainable development goals, reverse logistics, closed-loop supply chains,

digitalized sustainable circular economies, green supply chain management, and sustainable

supply chain management.

Rubal Dua

Rubal Dua is a Principal Fellow at KAPSARC. He is actively engaged in exploring emerging

challenges and priorities in sectors that critically inﬂuence transportation and infrastructure,

viewed through the lens of energy economics, policy, and sustainability. He holds a Ph.D. from

KAUST, Saudi Arabia, an M.Sc. from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, and a B.Tech. from the

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee.

AHM Mehbub Anwar

Dr.AHM Mehbub Anwar is a Fellow at KAPSARC. He currently leads the Energy Decision Model

for Maritime, which results in research outcomes as well as advisory inputs for the energy

ecosystem across the Kingdom. Prior to joining KAPSARC, he worked as a transport planner for

Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), Australia, a state government organization, and as a

researcher at the University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia. He has also worked as a lecturer at

Khulna University, Bangladesh, and was later promoted to a professorship in urban transport

planning. He holds a Ph.D. with an examiners’ commendation for an outstanding thesis from the

UOW.

Prateek Bansal

Prateek Bansal is an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, working

primarily on Bayesian machine learning methods and causal inference models that can be

applied to transport systems. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, an M.Sc. degree from The

University of Texas at Austin, and a B.Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

35Enabling Net-Zero Shipping: An Expert Review-Based Agenda for Emerging Techno-Economic and Policy Research

About the Project

The project “Field Inquiry-Based Assessment of Sectoral Challenges and

Opportunities” is aimed at ‘questioning the questions’ in order to identify and

prioritize questions that can lead to impactful, policy-relevant research. It

seeks to identify and prioritize emerging challenges and opportunities within

policy and economic research across diverse sectors.