The shipping industry faces a daunting challenge: how to decarbonise a sector that accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions while keeping global trade moving efficiently. Unlike aviation or road transport, there is no single panacea. Instead, a patchwork of solutions—from methanol and ammonia to hydrogen derivatives, biofuels, and carbon capture—may well be needed to achieve net zero.

At a recent panel discussion held during London International Shipping Week, experts from government, industry, and technology providers, highlighted both the opportunities and hurdles ahead.