The world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly shipping

The Green Shipping Programme (GSP), a public-private partnership, aims to advance the Norwegian government’s maritime strategies and plans. The programme’s vision is to develop and strengthen Norway’s goal to establish the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly shipping. 

GSP was first established in January 2015 under the name “the Green Coastal Shipping Program”, consisting of 16 private companies and organisations, as well as two government ministries. In the spring of 2019, the program changed its name to the Green Shipping Programme to state its international ambitions. 

In the autumn of 2023, the program included more than 94 private companies and organizations as well as 12 public observers. The Green Shipping Programme is financed partly by public allocations from the State budget of Norway and partly by the members themselves.

Om GSP

This is GSP in a nutshell:

  • We generate knowledge through studies
  • We start pilots
  • We exchange knowledge between theory and practice
  • We scale up pilots
  • And we facilitate dialogue and collaboration between all stakeholders in the shipping industry, enabling them to make informed decisions

By spring 2022, the program has initiated over 45 green pilot projects, of which 17 have been realized or are under development.

Harald Solberg CEO of the Norwegian Shippowners' Association

Harald Solberg, CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, and leader of the steering group in the Green Shipping Program.

“Reduced emissions from the shipping industry have a high focus both in the industry and from the Norwegian authorities at all levels. Through the Green Shipping Programme we can utilize the full potential from the maritime cluster and together collaborate to realize good ideas. By sharing knowledge and experience, we are convinced that new technology and new solutions can be scaled and give the industry international advantage and be more competitive. Due to a fast development, the industry also needs to rapidly adapt to this change.

The Green Shipping Programme provides a good basis for realizing groundbreaking pilot projects.”

 

The goal of the programme

Our vision: Establish the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly shipping.

The Green Shipping Program’s overall goal is to contribute to feasible solutions that ensure efficient and environmentally friendly shipping to achieve the national and international climate goals. More specifically, the goals are to achieve cost-effective emission reductions, economic growth, sustainable logistics solutions, increased competitiveness, and new jobs.

Norwegian shipping can become a showcase in the world, an incubator and platform for Norwegian exports of environmental technologies and green transport services. Authorities and business participate in the program and collaborate on how we can achieve these goals together.

Climate target: 50% reduction and zero-emissions ports within ten years

Norwegian authorities have set ambitious goals. Greenhouse gas emissions shall be reduced by 50 percent by 2030 for domestic shipping and fishing – a huge challenge. To reach the goal, we must have approximately 700 low-emission ships and 400 zero-emission ships in 2030, distributed over all ship categories

In addition, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set the ambition to halve emissions from shipping by 2050. This means that the global market for green technologies and solutions will soon be a reality.

Goals set and result achieved

Since its start-up in 2015, the Green Shipping Program has been developed through defined phases.

Phase 1: Assess the potential for battery and gas-powered maritime transport in Norway (2015/2016)

Goal: Identify emissions and the potential for emission reductions, as well as the effect on industry and exports. Start up five pilots in each phase going forward.

Results:

  • Five pilots were started up
  • Two studies and five pilot projects identified great opportunities for Norway.
  • A barrier study for green ferry tenders (for county municipals) was carried out, which contributed greatly to the ferry revolution in Norway and the electrification of international shipping. Electrification has grown from 15 to 450 battery ships in 5 years, with 40% Norwegian market share and Norway in the lead on the supplier side.

 

  • The program has helped to spread knowledge in society, create debate and make informed decisions.
  • In 2015, the Green Shipping Program was awarded the Lloyd’s List Global Environmental Prize.

 

Phase 2: Evaluating business cases in the industry (2016/2017)

Goal: Define the way forward and analyse the business and economic consequences of measures. Raise concrete challenges and opportunities for the Norwegian Parliament and Government. Start up five new pilots.

Results:

  • A sea chart for green coastal shipping was prepared and handed over to the government’s expert committee for green competitiveness.
  • An open debate with top leaders from business, government and politics in Norway was established.
  • Competitive and predictable electricity prices were seriously put on the political agenda with the aim of achieving a plug-in hybridisation of coastal shipping.

 

  • The Green Shipping Program was recognized as a formal project to promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • The Program promoted the need for a national plan for green fuels.
  • A monthly newsletter was established.
  • Five new pilots were established

 

Phase 3: Removing barriers to green solutions (2018/2019)

Goal: Answer the most important analytical questions related to the green transition, through studies of barriers, opportunities, and policy instruments. The focus will be on cargo ships, speedboats, ferries, fishing vessels, services for the aquaculture industry and for oil companies, as well as moving cargo from road to sea and ports for an efficient green transition.

Results:

  • The Government’s strategy for green competitiveness with a focus on green framework conditions and the establishment of early markets for the use of green technologies was implemented.
  • Several buyers of maritime services joined the Green Shipping Program. The financial industry did the same.
  • The second edition of the debate with top leaders from business, government, and politics in Norway was conducted.

 

  • Focus on international market opportunities was raised to government level.
  • Started up five new pilots.

 

Phase 4: Develop and scale green solutions in Norway (2019/2020)

Goal: To increase the scope of the program by piloting more green logistics solutions, technologies, fuels, and financial solutions. Providing evidence-based input to the government’s planning work. Focus on cargo ships and coastal shipping, as well as public procurement and moving cargo from road to sea. Increased visibility.

Results:

  • Arranged round table conference with the Norwegian Prime Minister and some twenty Norwegian top leaders
  • Arranged business and environmental policy debate during Arendal Week 2019
  • Start-up of GSP Service Center for fleet renewal of cargo ships
  • Involvement in IMO GreenVoyage-2050

 

  • Provided input to six government plans and reports to the Parliament
  • Established new graphic profile and website
  • Started up 13 new pilots

 

Phase 5: Develop and scale green solutions in Norway and internationally (2021/2022)

Goal: To increase the scope of the program by piloting more green logistics solutions, technologies, fuels, and financial solutions. Focus on cargo ships, offshore wind, autonomous ferries, services for the aquaculture industry and for oil companies, as well as green public and private procurement and moving cargo from road to sea. Contribute to increased green competitiveness for exports. Further develop GSP’s role in the development of international, green markets, e.g. through the IMO’s GreenVoyage-2050.

Results:

Ongoing


Phase 6: Piloting for scaling and green growth (2023/2024)

Goal: In this phase, the Green Shipping Programme will emphasize zero-emission fuel through increased involvement of cargo owners, financial institutions, energy players and authorities.

In this phase, the program will also prioritize competitive shipbuilding in Norway as part of moving more shipyard production home and thereby strenghten the entire Norwegian maritime cluster. In sum: contribute to increased green competitiveness for exports.

GSP will also contribute to Norway establishing a global leadership position in green and blue maritime ammonia operation.

Results:

Ongoing

More information

 

Get in touch with the Green Shipping Program

Magnus Eide 
Director, Green Shipping Programme
+4798623294
Email

Per Wiggo Richardsen
Director of Communications Green Shipping Programme
+4790777829
Email

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