ABS and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have inked a fresh memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly advance clean energy initiatives within the maritime sector and propel the decarbonization of maritime operations.
The collaboration, forged between the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and ABS, aims to harness the expertise and resources of both entities to bolster efforts aimed at reducing emissions, thereby benefiting the maritime industry.
Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO of ABS, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “This new agreement allows ABS and the DOE to take advantage of the deep insight and complimentary capabilities of each organization to accelerate development of critical clean energy initiatives. We bring together the unique knowledge and resources of two mission-focused organizations to support maritime clean energy transition in the U.S. and influence international maritime decarbonization strategy in the public interest.”
Echoing this sentiment, Michael Berube, DOE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation and Fuels at EERE, highlighted the importance of adapting to an evolving landscape as the maritime sector strives to achieve full decarbonization by 2050. He remarked, “As we move to fully decarbonize the global maritime sector by 2050, we need to ensure we are receptive to new information in this ever-changing landscape.”
The MOU between the DOE and ABS is poised to advance clean energy development and maritime decarbonization through fostering open engagement, information sharing, and collaborative research on U.S. maritime transportation decarbonization strategies.
Key areas of collaboration outlined in the MOU encompass domestic and international maritime strategy, ABS support to U.S. delegations on zero-emission shipping and other maritime decarbonization initiatives, action plans for maritime decarbonization, and a variety of technical advisory exchanges.