Partnering with Members to De-risk the Maritime Energy Transition
In the face of climate change, vessel owners and operators must make strategic decisions in an increasingly complex environment. Shipping carries around 80% of world trade but is also responsible for around 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a revised strategy to significantly reduce GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by or around 2050.
While the targets are defined, the pathway remains uncertain. The maritime energy transition introduces a range of operational, technical and commercial challenges, as well as new and evolving risks. The pace and scale of these challenges are significant.
At West, we believe we have a key role to play in both shaping the regulatory environment through industry collaboration and supporting Members in navigating and addressing the challenges of exploration. We aim to support our Members in navigating this transition through knowledge sharing, risk guidance and technical insight. One of our Members – CMB.TECH – has already begun operating vessels using alternative fuels, offering practical insight into the risks and considerations involved in early adoption.
A New Era of Risk – and Support
The shift to alternative fuels and lower-carbon operations introduces a range of unfamiliar hazards – including toxicity, reactivity, bunkering complexity, fire risk, and uncertain spill behaviour. While these risks are evolving, responding to pollution and operational incidents is not new for us – it is part of our core role as a P&I club.
Our approach centres on proactive, informed support. Drawing on decades of experience in claims handling, pollution response, and operational risk, our internal specialists can support discissions on new fuel types, bunkering procedures, and incident prevention. The Club’s expertise includes environmental risk, casualty management, and regulatory compliance – are all critical in assessing and manging the implications of the energy transition.
Case Study – CMB.TECH
Our Member, CMB.TECH, is taking a proactive and integrated approach to the energy transition. As a diversified maritime group operating a fleet of over 160 seagoing vessels – including dry bulk carriers, container ships, tankers, offshore wind support vessels – CMB.TECH is both an early adopter and a producer of low-carbon fuels.
Their strategy recognises a dual responsibility: to reduce emissions from shipping operations and consider the environmental impact of the cargoes transported. CMB.TECH is actively developing and deploying hydrogen and ammonia fuel solutions, producing, distributing and using these fuels across their operations. Their focus is on hydrogen for smaller vessels and applications, and ammonia for larger ships.
Additionally, CMB.TECH is investing in R&D to expand the use of hydrogen in heavy-duty vehicles (including trucks and straddle carriers), further extending their commitment to decarbonisation across the entire supply chain.
We are working with CMB.TECH and other members to assess the full risk landscape as these fuels are introduced, including:
The evolving liability and compensation regimes for spills of these new fuels; as well as
Focusing on crew safety, regulatory compliance, and potential considerations for P&I cover.
West is committed to working alongside Members like CMB.TECH through the transition. We see it as a valuable opportunity to grow and deepen our expertise, enabling us to offer proactive, informed support. By learning from pioneers like CMB.TECH, we are better equipped to assist other Members as they navigate similar challenges with confidence.