SHANGHAI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua Silk Road) -- As global shipping decarbonization talks enter a critical phase, building consensus on international rules and expanding the use of green fuels have become key priorities for the industry. China's experience in shipbuilding, green fuels, port operations and maritime education is providing important support for the global transition to greener shipping, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has said.
"Shanghai has already demonstrated that the green transition is achievable, and it is happening right now," Dominguez told Xinhua Finance and other media on the sidelines of the 2026 North Bund Forum in Shanghai, expressing hope that the city's pioneering initiatives would offer valuable lessons for other countries and help inform the development and implementation of international regulations.
-- Building consensus and maintaining momentum
Global negotiations on shipping decarbonization are approaching a critical juncture ahead of the 85th session of the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), scheduled from November 30 to December 3.
Member states remain divided over the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework, with economic measures, including greenhouse gas emissions pricing, among the key outstanding issues.
Despite external challenges including maritime security concerns, countries are becoming more actively engaged and increasingly willing to listen to one another, Dominguez said.
"For me, what matters is maintaining this momentum, particularly in these challenging times," he said.
The next steps involve developing the necessary technologies and alternative fuels, as well as training the next generation of seafarers. Bringing these elements together will be essential to ensuring a safe and reliable transition, he said.
Asked how the pace of negotiations might affect investment decisions across the industry, Dominguez acknowledged that any postponement in adopting the measures would require adjustments to the implementation timetable, giving governments and industry players sufficient time to prepare.
"The sooner we can reach an agreement, the sooner implementation can begin," he said.
Speaking at the 2026 North Bund Forum, Dominguez noted that the IMO and its member states remain firmly committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. This long-term direction provides companies with a basis for investment decisions and opportunities to gain experience through pioneering projects, he said.
-- From green fuel bunkering to green shipping corridors
China has a "very critical" role to play in the global transition to greener shipping, Dominguez said.
As an active IMO member state, China has accumulated valuable experience in maritime training, technological research and development, shipbuilding, vessel design and port operations. Such expertise can help ensure that international regulations are grounded in practical realities and work more effectively, he said, expressing hope that China would continue to make active contributions within the IMO framework.
Shanghai Port's growing capacity for green fuel bunkering was among the examples Dominguez repeatedly highlighted.
"Shanghai has taken the first step in methanol bunkering, and I am very pleased to see this achievement," he said, adding that the city's experience could offer a useful reference for ports around the world.
The expansion of green fuel bunkering capacity is helping pave the way for wider deployment of lower-emission vessels. In 2025, Shanghai Port supplied 712,000 cubic meters of bonded liquefied natural gas (LNG), up 54 percent year on year, alongside 10,000 tonnes of domestically produced green methanol.
Under a policy plan aimed at developing Shanghai into an international hub for green shipping fuel bunkering and trading, the city aims to establish the two centers on a preliminary basis by 2030.
International cooperation is advancing in parallel. In his remarks at the forum, Dominguez highlighted green shipping corridor partnerships connecting Shanghai with the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Hamburg, saying such initiatives were generating valuable practical experience in reducing emissions from maritime transport.
Beyond ocean-going vessels, he also pointed to progress in the electrification and automation of inland shipping in Shanghai and neighboring areas. Replicating these practices and exploring closer integration between inland waterways and ocean-going shipping could provide other countries with practical pathways for their own green transitions, he said.
-- Training the next generation and translating practical experience into global standards
The growing deployment of alternative-fuel vessels and new energy technologies is creating fresh demands for seafarer skills, ship-port coordination and maritime safety management.
Dominguez stressed the importance of both upgrading the skills of existing seafarers and preparing young people entering the industry.
Training programs need to cover the safe handling of alternative fuels, the operation of emerging technologies and coordination between vessels and increasingly automated ports, he said.
Dominguez also encouraged China to draw on its experience in automation, decarbonization and alternative fuels to further strengthen maritime education and share its expertise with the IMO, contributing to the development of higher global training standards. (Contributed by Ge Jiaming)
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