MITSUI O.S.K. Lines and MSC have joined coalitions aiming to decarbonise the shipping industry.

MOL has signed a five-year impact partnership agreement with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, and MSC has become a member of the SEA-LNG Coalition.

As a GCMD impact partner, MOL intends to provide access to vessels as part of coalition projects and operate data and evaluation reports to publicly share internal learnings.

GCMD CEO Lynn Loo said the centre was proud to welcome MOL on board as an impact partner.

“We are excited to tap on MOL’s track record in developing technical energy efficiency measures to broaden our perspective as we scope an initiative to help increase industry adoption of measures that can increase fuel efficiency of ships.”

Toshiaki Tanaka, MOL’s representative director, executive vice president executive officer, and COO said MOL was very pleased to be a partner of the coalition.

“We will make our biggest effort to contribute and accelerate progress towards the net zero future in maritime industry, together with GCMD and all its partners.”

And MSC plans to work alongside SEA-LNG to demonstrate the benefits of the LNG pathway to decarbonisation.

MSC noted it has invested in LNG-fuelled vessels in recent years, and in 2022 saw its first five dual-fuel LNG-capable containerships in operation.

The company said it plans to replace conventional fuel vessels with dual-fuel capable vessels in the short term.

Bud Darr, executive vice president, maritime policy and government affairs at MSC Group, said the company believes it has found “another excellent partner” to help drive the industry toward uptake of net-zero fuels.

“We look forward to working with SEA-LNG to further assess and collaborate on the exciting long-term prospects of bio-LNG, and particularly renewable synthetic LNG, as mainstream marine fuel molecules,” Mr Darr said.

“In alignment with our net zero commitments by 2050, we view fossil-based LNG as a fuel in transition, and fully expect bio and renewable synthetic LNG to be a key part of our longer-term multi-fuel strategy for deploying net zero fuels.”

SEA-LNG chairman Peter Keller said MSC’s decision to work with the coalition demonstrated its confidence in the LNG pathway.

“LNG is available at scale for deep sea shipping today. Existing LNG infrastructure can accommodate bio-LNG and renewable synthetic LNG as they become increasingly accessible, lowering investment barriers,” he said.

“Waiting is not an option; the LNG pathway offers immediate decarbonisation benefits and a route to net-zero shipping.”