At a ceremony at the IMO headquarters in London, HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO DNV Maritime, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a new UAE Decarbonisation Centre.
Accordng to DNV, MEPC80 showed that shipping is now on an accelerating path towards full decarbonisation. However, the challenge of realising this goal is complex and can only be achieved through a cooperative cross-industry effort. The new UAE Maritime Decarbonization Centre, the new joint initiative from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE and Foundation Det Norske Veritas (DNV), is designed to put this collaborative focus at the centre of sustainable decarbonisation. It will work to connect stakeholders from across the maritime industry and beyond, to become a driving force for reducing GHG emissions globally.
HE Suhail Al Mazrouei said: “The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre reflects our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices within the maritime industry. By collaborating with DNV, we aim to leverage their expertise and global network to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of decarbonization technologies. The Centre will play a pivotal role in advancing our national and regional sustainability goals, while contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change.”
Remi Eriksen, President and CEO, Foundation Det Norske Veritas and DNV said: “The Foundation Det Norske Veritas is driven by a desire to help society tackle major global transformations. The recent IMO decision to greatly strengthen international shipping’s emissions targets will spur the maritime industry to accelerate its transition. At DNV we deeply believe that cross-industry collaboration is vital to realising this goal and are working to share our deep and broad industry expertise through maritime decarbonisation centres in key regions of the world. The founding of the UAE Decarbonisation Centre, in cooperation with the Ministry, is another significant milestone for the industry and we look forward to welcoming new partners in the future.”
The Centre will take a multi-faceted approach, working on leading joint industry research programmes, collaboration with governmental, industry, and academic stakeholders, and attracting and developing new talent to the industry. In addition, the Centre will focus on programmes that incubate and accelerate the development of new technologies and provide a centralised hub for information on decarbonisation solutions.
Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO DNV Maritime said: “We are very pleased to collaborate with the UAE’s Ministry of Infrastructure & Energy to establish the Maritime Decarbonisation Centre. Initiatives like the Centre are essential as we look to accelerate towards a decarbonised future. We need to build via cooperation, foster innovation, and scale local strengths into global leadership. With its strategic location and strong support from industry leaders, the Centre is poised to become a hub for maritime decarbonisation efforts.” The partners are planning to launch the Centre at the beginning of 2024.
