COP27: Norway needs over 1,000 low- and zero-emission vessels to meet GHG goal

The Norwegian Shipowners' Association says Norway needs 700 low-emission and 400 zero-emission ships by 2030 to hit its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target.

PHOTO: Southern view from Oslo's Ekeberg Park. A colorful container terminal in the front of the Oslofjord. Getty Images

Norway has set a target of reducing its GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990-levels. The target was revised slightly upwards from 50% in the lead-up to COP27.

The Norwegian Shipowners' Association argues that several hundred low- and zero-emission ships can be built or retrofitted in time, and supported by new bunkering infrastructure and green fuels production.

It has pledged to support development of zero-emission vessels and port infrastructure along the country's coast. But it has also called on the governments of Norway and other countries to partner with maritime firms, and to put up funding for technological research and development to help realise the pledges made under the US and Norway-led Green Shipping Challenge.

Several Norwegian companies are working to develop new technologies to help reduce emissions from shipping.

Classification society ABS has recently issued a "new technology qualification" to Norwegian hydrogen supplier Rotoboost’s concept of an onboard pre-combustion carbon capture system. The system can remove carbon dioxide from fossil fuels before combustion is completed.

Last week, Norwegian shipowner Amon Maritime announced it will build and operate a fleet of ammonia-powered offshore platform supply vessels (PSV).

Also, Yara Clean Ammonia is testing a new way of producing the green ammonia through a technology being developed by fellow Norwegian tech company Hystar.

And TECO 2030 is building Norway’s first large-scale hydrogen fuel cell factory in the northern Norwegian city of Narvik, and is on schedule for production to start up in the fourth quarter next year.

By Shilpa Sharma

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