Shipping industry charts course for green future

China's COSCO Shipping Group and the China Classification Society co-hosted a forum discussing green and smart solutions for a safe, sustainable, and efficient shipping industry in London last week, attracting more than 150 attendees.

The event was part of the program for the 12th London International Shipping Week, one of the world's leading global shipping and maritime gatherings, who took place from Sept 15 to Sept 19.

Addressing the forum, Wang Qi, minister and charge d'affaires at China's embassy in the United Kingdom, noted the country's commitment and contribution to global maritime governance and green shipping.

In July this year, China decided to establish a permanent mission to the International Maritime Organization, Wang said. Headquartered in London, the IMO is a UN specialized agency responsible for maritime safety and security, the prevention of marine pollution from ships, and related legal matters.

China will also seek re-election as a category-A member of the IMO Council this year, Wang said. Members are the 10 countries with the largest interest in providing international shipping services, according to the IMO.

Under the framework of the Global Governance Initiative, China will uphold the principles of consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, continue to support the IMO in its leadership role, and promote globally unified maritime rules, Wang said.

Speaking about green and smart shipping, Wang said it represents not only a technological revolution for the maritime industry but also a shared responsibility for the future of humanity.

"China stands ready to work with international partners to transform innovation into breakthroughs and to jointly build a new global shipping ecosystem," he said.

Zhu Bixin, director of the board and president of COSCO Shipping Group, emphasized the company's consistent commitment to integrating ESG principles into its global operations and delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable shipping services.

As of Dec 31, 2024, COSCO Shipping Group operated a fleet of 1,535 vessels with a combined capacity of 130 million deadweight tons, serving shipping routes across more than 150 countries and 1,500 ports worldwide, according to the group.

Notably, the company has been expanding its fleet with green, low-carbon vessels, including 12 methanol dual-fuel container ships that can cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 15 percent compared with traditional marine fuels.

Zhu outlined three initiatives to advance the sustainable development of the global shipping industry: steadfast support for the IMO's net-zero framework and the promotion of harmonized global regulations; increased investment and collaboration across the entire green energy value chain; and innovation in applying digital technologies to accelerate the green transition.

"COSCO Shipping Group is ready to work with global partners, promote cooperation through openness, and pursue shared success through innovation, contributing collective wisdom and strength to the transformation and upgrading of global supply chains," Zhu said.

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the IMO, said advancing green and smart solutions requires collaborative efforts across the shipping industry, involving participation of shipping companies, classification societies, ports, and more key stakeholders, along with strong policy support from national authorities.

Further progress is still needed, he noted, and only through multi-stakeholder collaboration and policy guidance can the industry achieve a true transformation.

During the forum, Wang Gang, chief executive of COSCO Shipping UK, highlighted the company's ESG achievements that include COSCO Shipping Crystal Logistics UK, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping UK, investing in an 11,000-square-meter green smart warehouse at London Gateway Freeport.

Equipped with photovoltaic power generation, electric forklifts, and intelligent systems, the project has achieved a 40 percent reduction in operational carbon emissions, according to the company.

COSCO Shipping UK has also introduced measures to reduce the carbon footprint of seven aging container ships. The company reported that overall energy efficiency improved by 8.2 percent in 2023, 11.2 percent in 2024, and 10.2 percent in 2025, compared with 2021 levels.

"ESG is embedded into our corporate DNA," Wang said. "We are committed to balancing economic performance, environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance … ESG has become our priority. It is not just about compliance, but a framework for long-term value creation."