Marintec Innovation Conference 2024: Setting sail towards a greener future

The Marintec Innovation 2024 (MINO 2024) was a resounding success, marking a significant milestone in the maritime industry's journey towards sustainability. The conference opened with a virtual welcome from Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), followed by inspiring opening speeches from Mr. Zhang Xin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, Ambassador Mikael H. Winther, Consul-General of Denmark in Shanghai, Mr. Tobias F. Svenningsen, Norwegian Consul General in Shanghai, and Ms. Anu Vuori, Finnish Consul General in Shanghai. These speeches set the stage for two days of strategic discussion and insightful dialogue.

The event brought together over 500 esteemed speakers and delegates from across the industry, all united by a common goal: fostering a sustainable and decarbonised future for the maritime sector. The highlights from the event, shared on the Marintec WeChat Mini Program, were incredibly well received, attracting over 20,000 viewers. This enthusiastic engagement underscores the growing interest and commitment within the industry to embrace green development and decarbonisation.

The global maritime industry is at a pivotal moment of transformation, with green development and decarbonisation rapidly gaining momentum. Marintec Innovation, organised by Informa Markets and the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SSNAME), and co-organised by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the China Association of the Shipbuilding Industry, and the China Shipbuilding Engineering Society, provided a valuable platform for key stakeholders to address these critical changes. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Danish Export Association, Danish Maritime, the Norwegian Business Association, Norwegian Maritime Exporters, the UK's Department of Business and Trade, and MercyShips for their unwavering support.

Marintec Innovation 2024 underscored the urgent need for the maritime industry to transition from high carbon to low carbon, and ultimately to zero carbon. Achieving these decarbonisation goals requires a global rethink of the industry, necessitating collaboration among governments, the financial sector, shipowners, and regulators. The event, themed "Alternative Energy and Fuels Contribute to Low-Carbon Maritime," was divided into three main sessions: Review and Outlook, Sailing Efficiency, and Industry-Chain Support for alternative energy sources.

Speakers emphasised that with the new IMO environmental protection regulations, green and low-carbon development has become a mandatory requirement for the international shipping industry. The conference highlighted the importance of developing a consensus on green fuels and decarbonisation, providing feasible technical solutions, strengthening regulation and standardisation, and offering continuous support for decarbonisation efforts.

The conference also addressed the significant impact of fuel transformation in the shipping industry. According to the IMO, global shipping consumes approximately 200 million tonnes of fossil fuels annually, emitting around 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, which represents 13% of transport industry emissions. Without effective measures, these emissions could rise to 18% of global anthropogenic carbon emissions by 2050. The application of green energy and low-carbon decarbonisation has become a central focus for the shipping industry, driving the demand for green fuels.

The shipbuilding industry is also at a critical stage of transformation and upgrading. Accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of the product, manufacturing, and supply chain systems is an inevitable trend in the global shipbuilding industry. Over the past 50 years, the maritime industry has been driven by technological advances, international environmental regulations, evolving ship design, digital intelligence processes, and changing trade patterns. Now, the integration of green, low-carbon, and digital intelligence development is critical to the industry's future.

The industry is already abuzz with excitement as it prepares for next year's big event, Marintec China 2025. Riding on the success of Marintec Innovation 2024, Marintec 2025 will feature alternative energy sources and the industry chain with a dedicated 'Energytec' zone, continuing to explore cutting-edge solutions that bridge the gap between the maritime industry and sustainable energy practices. Due to the overwhelming demand for space at Marintec China 2025, with over 80% of the exhibition space already booked, the organising committee has confirmed that an additional hall will be made available.