MSC Joins Hydrogen Council

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday January 13, 2021

Leading box carrier MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Tuesday announced it has joined industry body the Hydrogen Council as part of its wider efforts to explore routes to decarbonisation.

The global initiative is focused on the use of hydrogen as a long-term solution for clean energy.

“MSC is actively engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to accelerate the development of clean hydrogen fuels for shipping," said Bud Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy & Government Affairs, MSC Group.

"There must be a massive injection of energy and capital into R&D efforts to bring alternative fuels and alternative propulsion technologies to the marketplace to decarbonise all industries in the longer term.

"The future of shipping and decarbonisation will rely on strong partnerships from both the perspective of technology collaboration and procurement."

As the industry looks to reduce its GHG emissions at least 50% by 2050 and ultimately to zero, hydrogen is seen as a leading contender to be a key marine fuel of the future, not least because it a carbon-free source of energy.

However, at present the majority of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels.

To ensure emissions have been reduced over the full lifecycle of energy use, hydrogen must produced using alternative methods such as by electrolysis using renewable energy - resulting in so-called "green hydrogen".

MSC is the world's second largest box carrier by capacity, according to data from Alphaliner.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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