Norwegian chemical tanker operator Odfjell has urged IMO member states to adopt the proposed Net-Zero Framework (NZF) at the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting on October 14–17, calling it a crucial step toward a sustainable and equitable maritime future.
The company said the framework, set to take effect from 2028, would give the shipping industry the clarity and predictability needed to drive investment in new marine fuels, fleet renewal, and port infrastructure.
“Climate change is already impacting people, societies, and global trade. The shipping industry must act responsibly and decisively, and the Net-Zero Framework gives the clarity, predictability, and direction we need to drive investments in new fuels, fleet renewal, and port infrastructure,” Odfjell said.
The NZF builds on the IMO’s 2023 Net Zero Strategy, which set a path toward full decarbonisation of international shipping by or around 2050.
If adopted, the NZF would mark the IMO’s first global regulatory package combining a fuel standard and a market-based measure aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
Odfjell said the NZF would provide regulatory certainty for long-term investments and innovation, encourage the scaling of zero- and low-emission fuels and infrastructure, and promote a just and equitable transition across the maritime value chain while aligning shipping with global climate goals and investor expectations.
