The 11th annual World Ocean Summit

Tuesday, April 07, 2026

Monday, 11 March 2024 19:50

The 11th annual World Ocean Summit

Dear Markos,

The 11th annual World Ocean Summit will convene the widest cross-section of the ocean community with a focus on ocean health, industry strategies and ocean-climate solutions. Industries that operate in the ocean including shipping, fishing, aquaculture, energy and tourism will discuss their strategies as part of the "Sustainable ocean economy" track on March 12th and 13th 2024.

From alternative fuels to retrofitting ships and ports, and from voyage optimisation to energy efficiency at sea, there are many options for the shipping industry to consider as it moves towards emission-reduction targets. The ownership of decarbonising cost, demand-supply of alternate fuels, lack of infrastructure and security for fuel bunkering are all issues that cannot be addressed by any single stakeholder. Sessions will explore how collaboration across the value chain will ease bottlenecks to achieving decarbonisation with a key focus on ship recycling, the future of ports, and voyage optimisation.

Agenda highlight - Shipping:

Pulling together for greener shipping

Whether it is alternative fuels, retrofitting ships and ports, voyage optimisation or energy efficiency at sea, there are many “green” options for the shipping industry. A single initiative will not be sufficient; several will be required. Which are the most promising ones, and how, in combination, might they make shipping green?

Fuelling future ships

Current fuel options for ships are not sustainable. What are the alternatives? What is the potential of biofuel? Is LNG still an option? How can adequate quantities of alternative fuels be produced? If demand outpaces supply for alternative fuels, what are the potential solutions? What are ports doing to be ready to bunker alternative fuels?

Driving progress in ship recycling

An increasing number of ship owners are adopting alternative fuels and new technologies to operate more sustainably. As a result, r vessels are being retrofitted or scrapped. What will happen to the large number of existing ships due to be broken down? Which regulations need to be put in place in order to ensure sustainable recycling practices? What does a sustainable shipyard look like? What role do shipyards and ship owners play in the circularity of materials? Who should be held accountable for proper ship recycling?

How to maximise the potential of carbon insetting in shipping

The shipping industry uses more than 300m tonnes of fossil fuels every year. What exactly does insetting in shipping mean? How could it enable a transition from fossil fuels to sustainable biofuels? How does insetting help cargo owners move their freight more sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint?

View full agenda