The International Maritime Organization’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme and International PtX Hub have joined forces to accelerate maritime decarbonisation through a newly established strategic partnership. The collaboration was officially launched during a kick-off meeting at IMO Headquarters in London, where key representatives from both organisations gathered to explore synergies and outline priority areas for cooperation.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment to support developing countries in their transition to low- and zero-carbon shipping. Building on the successful engagement with the Government of Kenya on maritime decarbonisation, the partnership aims to expand similar efforts globally.
‘This strategic collaboration between GreenVoyage2050 and the PtX Hub marks an important milestone in advancing cross-sectoral collaboration to support developing countries in their maritime energy transition. Alternative fuels play a critical role in implementing the IMO GHG Strategy, and by leveraging our combined expertise in maritime policy and alternative fuel pathways in joint beneficiary countries, we are well-positioned to drive impactful and sustainable solutions on the ground.’
Gyorgyi Gurban, Head of Projects Implementation at the IMO
Intensifying the partnership
Implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and funded by the International Climate Initiative of the German Government, the PtX Hub brings extensive experience in green hydrogen and Power-to-X value chains.
‘The maritime sector holds enormous potential for defossilisation. Our collaboration will focus on bringing local and regional expertise in alternative fuel production to catalyse the development of pilot projects that demonstrate the viability of Power-to-X value chains for shipping.’
Stefan Mager, Head of Infrastructure – Energy, Water and Mobility at GIZ
Moving forward, the PtX Hub and IMO will pursue several action items in 2025:
- Intensifying the process of developing national action plans for reducing greenhouse gas emission from ships in selected countries;
- Developing a policy playbook for decision-makers to integrate maritime defossilisation into national energy and development policies and assist in aligning regulatory frameworks;
- Creating specialised training materials that combine both our expertise in maritime defossilisation and the energy transition, aimed at building capacity in countries;
- Conducting a joint train-of-trainers programme on green maritime transportation at IMO headquarters in London.
PtX Team in London at IMO headquarters to formally initiate the strategic partnership with
IMO GreenVoyage2050
Sounding out the way forward with
the strategic partnership
in 2025
Exchange with leading RE organisations
While in London, the PtX Hub delegation took the opportunity to connect with other key organisations working on the renewable energy transition and the decarbonisation of shipping. In an exchange with representatives from the Commonwealth, both sides discussed the possibility of acollaboration in the areas of energy and digitalisation.
The delegation from the PtX Hub also met with a delegation from the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the Global Solar Council (GSC) and the Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2). GH2 is a Swiss non-profit foundation dedicated to accelerating the global adoption of green hydrogen to combat climate change and drive sustainable development. GSC is a membership-based trade association representing over 97% of the world’s total installed solar power capacity, and IHA is a non-profit membership association whose members manage around one third (450 GW) of the globally installed hydropower capacity. The parties mutually agreed to further intensify inter-institutional exchange and knowledge sharing.
In a meeting with representatives from the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) – an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of global seaborne trade – both sides exchanged perspectives on Green Shipping Corridors and agreed to develop a joint proposal to intensify collaboration between GMF and the International PtX Hub.
Meeting with the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub: Dana Rodriguez, Philipp Wittrock, Carlo Raucci,
Ahila Karan, Carolin Capone (from left to right)
A visit to Lloyds Register Maritime Decarbonization Hub and an exchange with energy and transport experts from the University College London (UCL) accomplished the visit. UCL has observer status at IMO and is training various IMO members’ negotiators and technical advisors. Amongst other, the representatives from PtX Hub and UCL exchanged perspectives on the state of international maritime decarbonisation politics. All the discussions held by the PtX Hub delegates during their stay in London were well received. They emphasised the crucial role of international cooperation in promoting a defossilised future of shipping.
