Designing a credible decarbonisation pathway for global shipping

MAR506 – Critical Analysis of Maritime Decarbonisation and Sustainable Shipping Practices

Assessment Task 2 (2026): Individual Research Report

Module and Assessment Overview

Module code: MAR506
Module title: Sustainable Maritime Operations and Decarbonisation
Level: 7 (Masters)
Credit value: 20 credits
Academic year: 2025–2026
 Warsash Maritime School (Solent University), t MSc Maritime Operations / Maritime Management programmes.

Assessment: Assessment Task 2 – Individual Research Report
Weighting: 50–60% of module total (programme-dependent)
Submission format: Written report, 4,000 words (±10%), individual work
Mode: Online submission via VLE (Turnitin-enabled PDF upload)

Assessment Context

The maritime sector faces binding international and regional decarbonisation commitments aligned with IMO greenhouse gas reduction targets and national strategies such as the UK Maritime 2050 plan and the EU Fit for 55 package. Shipowners and operators must make capital and operational decisions under tightening regulatory, financial, and stakeholder pressures relating to emissions reduction, alternative fuels, and energy-efficiency technologies.

This assessment positions you as a maritime professional tasked with delivering an evidence-based and critical analysis of decarbonisation pathways for a defined segment of the global fleet. The report must move beyond description and demonstrate balanced evaluation of technical options, regulatory drivers, and human and organisational factors shaping real-world maritime operations.

Assignment Brief

Task Description

Prepare a 4,000-word critical research report that evaluates realistic decarbonisation pathways for a chosen segment of the international shipping industry (for example: deep-sea container ships, crude or product tankers, bulk carriers, short-sea ro-ro and ro-pax services, offshore support vessels, or feeder container fleets).

Your report must:

• Frame the current and emerging regulatory context for maritime greenhouse gas reduction relevant to the chosen segment (including the IMO GHG Strategy 2023, EEXI, CII, EU ETS extension to maritime, FuelEU Maritime, and selected national strategies where applicable).

• Critically appraise at least three decarbonisation options (such as alternative fuels, hybrid or wind-assist technologies, energy-efficiency retrofits, operational measures, or digital optimisation), evaluating technical feasibility, safety, cost, and operational implications.

• Use at least two real-world case studies of shipping companies, vessel types, or demonstration projects that illustrate contrasting decarbonisation approaches.

• Analyse key barriers to implementation, including regulatory uncertainty, investment risk, infrastructure readiness, human-element challenges, and implications for ports and maritime logistics chains.

• Develop a reasoned and evidence-based set of recommendations for shipowners, operators, and policymakers to support credible progress toward 2030 and 2050 emissions targets.

Suggested Structure

1. Executive summary (maximum 400 words; may be excluded from word count depending on programme guidance)

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2. Introduction and scope – definition of the chosen segment, rationale, and report outline

3. Regulatory and policy landscape – critical overview of IMO, regional, and national measures

4. Technology and operational options – literature-based evaluation of selected pathways

5. Case studies – comparative analysis of at least two real-world examples

6. Barriers, risks, and enabling conditions – economic, technical, infrastructural, labour, and safety issues

7. Recommendations and implementation roadmap – justified proposals to 2030 and 2050

8. Conclusion – synthesis of key findings and reflection on limitations

9. References – minimum 20 academic and industry sources in Harvard format (2019–2026)

10. Appendices (optional) – supporting data, charts, or assumptions

Specific Requirements

• Word count: 4,000 words (±10%), excluding executive summary, tables, figures, references, and appendices

• Style: Formal academic English, third person, clear and concise

• Referencing: Harvard style with a balanced mix of peer-reviewed literature and authoritative industry or regulatory sources

• Data use: Quantitative evidence should be integrated where possible (e.g. emissions factors, fuel costs, uptake scenarios), with assumptions clearly stated

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• Originality: Submissions will be subject to similarity checking; excessive reliance on a single source or case study is unacceptable

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Critically evaluate international and regional regulatory frameworks governing maritime emissions reduction and sustainable operations

• Analyse and compare low- and zero-carbon fuels and technologies across vessel types and operational profiles

• Assess the economic, operational, safety, and human-element implications of maritime decarbonisation pathways

• Formulate evidence-based recommendations for shipowners, operators, ports, and policymakers

Marking Rubric (Indicative)

(Table retained as displayed in the Visual Editor)

Decarbonisation of deep-sea container shipping increasingly depends on a portfolio of measures rather than a single technological solution, because fuel-transition risk, infrastructure constraints, and evolving regulation interact in complex ways. Early adopters of green methanol or ammonia face significant capital and safety challenges, yet they may gain strategic advantage through alignment with cargo owners and financiers seeking to reduce Scope 3 emissions. Evidence suggests that efficiency gains from digital optimisation, slow steaming, and hull or propeller retrofits remain among the most cost-effective emissions-reduction measures, particularly when combined with wind-assist technologies and voyage-planning tools that can be deployed on existing vessels (Ylitervo & Santonen, 2023). Over the medium term, staged implementation that prioritises operational efficiency before large-scale fuel transition may reduce stranded-asset risk while supporting crew learning and regulatory compliance.

Additional Integrative Paragraph (New)

Beyond technical and regulatory considerations, recent research highlights that organisational readiness and workforce capability are decisive factors in the success of maritime decarbonisation strategies. Studies indicate that crew training, safety culture, and change-management capacity significantly influence the operational reliability of alternative fuels and energy-efficiency technologies, particularly during early adoption phases. Shipping companies that integrate decarbonisation planning with human-element strategiessuch as targeted training programmes, updated safety management systems, and cross-functional decision-making are better positioned to manage transitional risks and sustain long-term emissions reductions (Global Maritime Forum, 2024).

 References / Learning Resources (Harvard)

• Chandra, A.S. (2024) Pathways to decarbonize the maritime industry. Master’s thesis, Turku University of Applied Sciences.

• International Maritime Organization (2023) IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships. London: IMO.

• NWO (2023) Practical Playbook for Maritime Decarbonisation. Global Maritime Forum.

• Global Maritime Forum (2023) Green jobs and maritime decarbonisation. Insight report.

• Ylitervo, T. and Santonen, T. (2023) ‘Sustainability assessment of alternative power systems for maritime transport’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 421, 138990.

• Global Maritime Forum (2024) The human element in maritime decarbonisation. Copenhagen: GMF.