Shipping sector engages European officials on net-zero shipping framework

Jamaica’s shipping sector is intensifying its engagement in global discussions on maritime decarbonisation, as industry leaders move to ensure the Caribbean’s realities are reflected in emerging international regulations.

Earlier this week, members of the Shipping Association of Jamaica met with representatives from the Ministry of Transport maritime directorates from the Netherlands to discuss the International Maritime Organization’s developing net-zero framework for the shipping industry.

The meeting, chaired by SAJ president Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester provided an opportunity for European officials to outline the structure and intended implementation of the framework while hearing directly from Jamaican stakeholders about the practical implications for the Caribbean region.

Members of the Jamaican delegation raised several concerns, particularly around the framework’s applicability within small island developing states. Key issues highlighted included the high cost of transitioning fleets to alternative fuels, the significant investment required to build new port and bunkering infrastructure, and the limited access many Caribbean countries have to the financing mechanisms necessary to support compliance.

Industry representatives also noted uncertainties surrounding the availability of alternative fuels within the region and how smaller maritime economies will adapt to the rapid pace of global regulatory change.

Officials from the Netherlands, including Henk-Erik Sierink and Jasper Faber, encouraged Jamaica and other Caribbean stakeholders to clearly articulate their needs and concerns. They noted that the implementing guidelines for the net-zero framework are still being negotiated, and that input from developing maritime states will be critical as discussions continue—particularly regarding access to financing mechanisms that are currently being designed to support the transition.

During the meeting, Bertrand Smith, director general of the Maritime Association of Jamaica highlighted that three major studies are currently under way to better understand the potential impact of the framework on Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

These include an onshore feasibility study funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, an economic impact assessment being conducted by The University of the West Indies, and a regional case study on alternative fuel supply being undertaken by the International Maritime Organization and the Maritime Association of Jamaica.

Robertson-Sylvester emphasised that Jamaica supports the global shift toward cleaner shipping but stressed that the transition must be inclusive.

“Jamaica is not opposed to change,” she noted, “but the systems being developed must take into account the realities of small island states and the Caribbean maritime environment.”

With implementation guidelines still under negotiation, industry leaders say this period represents a critical window for Jamaica and the region to ensure their perspectives are fully considered in shaping the future of sustainable shipping.