News 25 Sep, 2025 Partnering with Members to De-risk the Maritime Energy Transition In the face of climate change, vessel owners and operators must make strategic decisions in an increasingly complex environment. Shipping carries around 80% of world trade but is also responsible for around 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a revised strategy to significantly reduce GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by or around 2050. Download PDF While the targets are defined, the pathway remains uncertain. The maritime energy transition introduces a range of operational, technical and commercial challenges, as well as new and evolving risks. The pace and scale of these challenges are significant. At West, we believe we have a key role to play in both shaping the regulatory environment through industry collaboration and supporting Members in navigating and addressing the challenges of exploration. We aim to support our Members in navigating this transition through knowledge sharing, risk guidance and technical insight. One of our Members – CMB.TECH – has already begun operating vessels using alternative fuels, offering practical insight into the risks and considerations involved in early adoption.   A New Era of Risk – and Support The shift to alternative fuels and lower-carbon operations introduces a range of unfamiliar hazards – including toxicity, reactivity, bunkering complexity, fire risk, and uncertain spill behaviour. While these risks are evolving, responding to pollution and operational incidents is not new for us – it is part of our core role as a P&I club. Our approach centres on proactive, informed support. Drawing on decades of experience in claims handling, pollution response, and operational risk, our internal specialists can support discissions on new fuel types, bunkering procedures, and incident prevention. The Club’s expertise includes environmental risk, casualty ma