DNV and WMMF Launch Shipowners’ Net-Zero Guide

Classification society DNV and the World Maritime Merchants Forum (WMMF) ESG team have published a new guide designed to help shipping companies navigate the transition towards net-zero.

The maritime industry is undergoing a tremendous transformation as shipowners face mounting regulatory demands, commercial pressures and the global imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

In response to these challenges, DNV and the WMMF ESG team have jointly published a new guide aiming to assist shipping companies in the transition towards net-zero. 

The publication, entitled “Net-Zero Guide: Practical Approaches for Global Shipping Companies,” provides a structured roadmap for decarbonisation, offering practical steps to align operational and investment decisions with international and regional regulations. 

Drawing on data-driven insights and real-world operator experience, the guide aims to give shipowners the clarity required in a rapidly evolving landscape, helping them adopt best practices and prepare for future changes.

“Shipping’s decarbonization journey continues despite the postponement at the IMO. The reality is that energy efficiency and fuel flexibility or readiness are still considered and implemented on vessels,” said CEO of DNV Maritime, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen.

“Continuing on this course will maintain competitiveness and contribute to the sector’s long-term decarbonization goals. The collaboration with World Maritime Merchants Forum on this guide is itself a testament to the importance of working together to pave the way for successful decarbonization.”

“The Net-Zero Guide offers the industry a wealth of practical reference cases in a complex transition environment, helping shipping companies strike a balance between short-term operations and long-term emissions reduction,” added President of China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), Mr. Wang Yong Xin.

The guide addresses the increasing complexity and cost of compliance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises that often lack the resources of larger operators. It sets out cost-effective measures such as energy-efficiency upgrades, phased fuel transitions and targeted fleet renewal or retrofits.

Beyond technical measures, the guide urges companies to embed decarbonisation into their core business strategies. This includes linking compliance with fleet investment and financing decisions, and adopting a lifecycle approach to fleet management that balances renewal, retrofits and operational optimisation. 

Organisational capability is also emphasised, with structured competence development and robust change management identified as essential to building resilience. By investing in workforce training and digitalisation, companies can ensure regulatory compliance and unlock efficiencies across their operations.

With international regulators, financiers and cargo owners demanding credible decarbonisation pathways, shipowners are under pressure to demonstrate progress while managing costs. 

The guide provides a practical framework for navigating these challenges, offering both immediate actions and long-term strategies. It also reinforces the importance of partnerships across the value chain, from fuel suppliers to port operators, in accelerating innovation and reducing costs.

The guide is available to download on the DNV website.

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