Shipping decarbonisation, alternative marine fuels, shore power, environmental regulation and operational change.
The UK regulator refreshed its guidance on bycatch reporting on 10 November 2026 and reiterated the importance of fishermen reporting incidents to help protect marine mammals.
The Marine Management Organisation published guidance on 10 November 2026 requiring vessel owners and masters to report incidents of marine mammal injury, mortality or bycatch within 48 hours of the end of a fishing trip.
IMarEST’s SEESIG reports its members consider delivery, infrastructure and value‑chain coordination the sector’s main obstacles to implementing the IMO 2023 greenhouse‑gas strategy, sources published on 9 November 2026.
Environmental network Seas At Risk has called on delegates at COP31 to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas and black carbon emissions to protect marine ecosystems and accelerate a fair transition away from fossil fuels in international shipping.
Responding to two cryosphere studies by ICCI and UNEP that warn overshooting 1.5°C is inevitable, the Clean Arctic Alliance has pressed for reductions in shipping-sourced black carbon to shield the Arctic.
PortXchange has told reports that better emissions accounting has not translated into clearer investment decisions for ports, which are demanding forward-looking, operationally integrated insights.
The UAE confirmed on 30 October 2026 that the oil leak from the tanker Gem No. 2 has been stopped and that no new leakage was detected, while cleanup work continues along affected shorelines, according to MarineLink Maritime News.
VesselBot’s Q3 2026 analysis, published via reports on 29 October 2026, shows up to a 35 per cent difference in Well-to-Wake emissions intensity between carriers operating the same fronthaul trades.
A fully electric barge linking an inland Nike drop‑off in Ho Chi Minh City with Gemalink has been launched in Vietnam by CMA CGM, Nike and Gemadept to reduce emissions on the inland leg of container movements.
A tanker oil spill detected off Umm Al Quwain on 23 October 2026 led to containment operations and environmental assessments, and was reported to have forced beach closures, MarineLink said.
The Port of Los Angeles recorded its lowest emissions per container in 2025, extending a two‑decade decline even as container volumes remained close to historic highs, the port's Inventory of Air Emissions shows.
MarineLink reported on 22 October 2026 that the National Ocean Industries Association named the American Bureau of Shipping and Ørsted as winners of its 2026 Environmental, Social & Governance Excellence Awards; ABS is identified as the Service, Supply & Support category winner.
Sources report the European Union’s Arctic Strategy will back International Maritime organisation regulation to tackle ship black carbon in the Arctic, a stance welcomed by campaign groups.
The Environmental Ship Index has been revised to ESI 2.0, and ports are reviewing incentive schemes to ensure rewards align with the new vessel scoring methodology, a The report says.
An independent study published on 14 October 2026 finds that shifting a greater share of domestic freight to coastal vessels could cut emissions by up to 90 per cent on the routes analysed, while also strengthening supply‑chain resilience.
An IMO‑commissioned study finds that switching the Sea of Marmara ferry fleet to hybrid and electric vessels could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 63%, while bringing economic and health benefits.
An industry review by reports shows improvements in emissions intensity, but a sluggish transition to low-carbon bunker fuels is preventing falls in total greenhouse gas output.
Delegates at an IMO research and development forum in Singapore have urged international cooperation to address gaps in preparedness for incidents involving an expanding range of alternative bunker fuels, a report on 27 September 2026 said.
MarineLink reports that Aderco’s 2055G+ programme uses continuous measurement to turn verified fuel-performance gains into Gold Standard carbon credits.
The Marine Management Organisation published guidance on 25 September 2026 covering the importance of seagrass, steps to avoid damage and the MMO’s support for recovery in England.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the OceanEye International Alliance on 24 September 2026, with over 30 nations signing up to strengthen and sustain global ocean observation.
Government ministers have welcomed plans for Bangladesh’s first Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility for hazardous waste, planned for the Mirsarai Economic Zone and supported by a feasibility study led by the IMO’s SENSREC Project, sources indicated on 18 September 2026.
Sources indicated on 15 September 2026 that the Clean Arctic Alliance reacted after media accounts said the Dubai Tower had transited the Northern Sea Route from Ningbo and was due in Hamburg, and that PanStar Acro had arrived in Rotterdam.
Pacific Environment and NTU Singapore publish a study arguing that strict, reliable certification is essential to prevent fraud and ensure the shipping sector’s move to cleaner fuels is genuine.
The Clean Shipping Coalition and allied NGOs have warned member states of the International Maritime organisation to resist proposals that could weaken a long negotiated climate compromise known as the Net‑Zero Framework, sources indicated on 28 August 2026.
VesselBot's Decoding Maritime Emissions Q2 2026, summarised by reports on 26 August 2026, reports a 31 per cent emissions‑intensity gap between carriers on the same trade lane amid mixed sectoral efficiency trends.
Sources indicated on 21 August 2026 that the BBNJ Agreement, the first global legal framework for biodiversity beyond national waters, entered into force earlier this year and raises questions for shipping.
The Department for Transport published Policy paper: Air Pollution Awareness Coalition (APAC) on 21 August 2026, describing a cross‑sector coalition to improve public understanding of air pollution and support action to reduce harm.
The Marine Management Organisation has set out how it is collecting reports, publishing landings data and engaging stakeholders after fishermen in South West England reported increased Octopus vulgaris sightings during 2025–26.
The Port of Seattle’s March 2025 shore-power update records completed installations and projected carbon savings as the region works towards a 2030 target for major cruise and container berths.
