This is the first of three special edition podcasts produced in association with DNVGL examining the tectonic shift shaping shipping's future: decarbonisation, alternative fuels and digitalization

In this first edition Eirik Nyhus, DNVGL's director of environment and Tore Longva, principal consultant at DNV GL, join Lloyd’s List Chief Correspondent Richard Clayton to assess shipping’s position on the road to decarbonization.

It’s time to take stock of our position on the journey, to recognise the progress we have already made, and to identify the obstacles that lie in the way ahead.

Energy efficiency is all well and good, say Eirik Nyhus and Tore Longva, but we will still need energy to propel a ship – and that energy needs to come from somewhere. All the fuels under test and trial have advantages and drawbacks.

It’s a balance between running for one solution and risk falling short or spending too much time on finding the perfect solution. We cannot allow the best to become the enemy of the good.

How has the discussion shifted as the industry deepens its understanding of the actual environmental footprint of each of the fuels? What will be the impact of transporting these fuels, distributing them, storing them?

Further, is pressure from regional and local interests helping the industry’s global insight or confusing it? And is the industry right to focus on CO2 or should it reassess the danger of black carbon and methane?