China’s shipbuilding industry is becoming an important partner for global shipowners in moving towards green development, which has also sparked anxiety among Japanese counterparts about falling behind.
In a report on November 24, Nikkei wrote that Japanese shipping industry professionals are calling for enhanced unity and collaboration within the Japanese industry to tackle new technologies, focusing on the research and development of next-generation fuel-powered ships using hydrogen and ammonia. This is to address the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2050 net-zero emission target for the shipping industry and the competitive pressure from China in the field of green ships.
Japanese shipbuilding and shipping companies have jointly established the “Green Ship Planning and Design Center (GSC)” to target the R&D of a new generation of green-powered ships. GSC Representative Director and former President of Japan Marine United (JMU) Shinjiro Mishima stated that Japan must lay out plans for the R&D of next-generation fuel-powered ships.
In October this year, a special meeting originally scheduled to pass a global shipping industry net-zero emission framework encountered a dramatic turn. Due to strong opposition from countries including the United States and Saudi Arabia, the IMO meeting decided to postpone the vote on the net-zero framework by one year. This “delay” is not only procedural but also a postponement of the global shipping emission reduction process.
However, Mishima pointed out: “The wave of decarbonization is unstoppable; both cargo owners and shipping companies are prioritizing and advancing related work.”
The implication is that Japanese shipbuilding companies need to be fully prepared.
Mishima candidly stated that “China has changed course,” targeting the R&D of next-generation fuel-powered ships. He added that China is actively promoting related R&D projects and building supply chains to prepare for the implementation of IMO-related measures, while Japan’s progress in these areas has already fallen behind.
Data from the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry shows that as of June this year, China has secured nearly 70% of global green ship orders and achieved full coverage of mainstream ship types.
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