Share

cover art for Shipping figures talk carbon cuts in Singapore

TradeWinds Wavelength

Shipping figures talk carbon cuts in Singapore

Decarbonisation was high on the agenda Singapore Maritime Week, where TradeWinds held its Shipowners' Forum this week. 


Shipping companies are taking another look at their green strategies in the absence of an adopted Net-Zero Framework regulation from the International Maritime Organization.


Meanwhile in Europe, the next FuelEU Maritime deadline will hit at the end of this month for owners who have operated ships to, from and within Europe over the past 12 months.


In this week's episode:

• In the Strait of Hormuz this week, there have been ship seizures and rising concerns about sea mines. TradeWinds reporter Matt Coyne gives us an update.

Read more: Container shipping remains paralysed in Middle East Gulf as MSC seizures ramp up tensions

Read more: Clearing Iran’s Strait of Hormuz mines could take six months, US defence officials tell lawmakers


• As the IMO begins another week of talks to see if its Net-Zero Framework can either be pushed through or rewritten, we hear from Eastern Pacific Shipping boss Cyril Ducau on his company’s decarbonisation plan.

Read more: Eastern Pacific Shipping boss explains how to ‘outperform the market’ in volatile times

Read more: Eastern Pacific Shipping sees wind of change in Singapore


• The Poseidon Principles launched almost seven years ago. Its new chairman Paul Taylor tells TradeWinds about how the initiative will aid shipowners in cutting carbon emissions.

Read more: ‘We have to have teeth’: Poseidon Principles boss signals strategic shift


• Shipowners with tonnage that sailed to or around Europe last year have just days left to decide if they want to pool vessels to share emissions credits or face potentially huge penalties from FuelEU Maritime. Craig Eason looks at the options with Frederike Hesse, co-founder of emissions accounting platform Zero44.

Read more: Shipowners face major pooling losses after EU gets its sums wrong

Read more: Don’t pay the penalty: FuelEU non-compliance costs will hurt


• And finally, we speak to the artist known as "Hardo", who trades commodities by day and makes art by night – this time, it’s all about shipping. He talks about how anyone and everyone in shipping and finance can tap into their creativity.

Read more: The kings of shipping and commodities — as only Hardo sees them

Read more: Meet the ‘Banksy of shipping’. The anonymous artist committing dry bulk markets to canvas


Host and producer: Holly Birkett.

Additional reporting: Matt Coyne, Craig Eason and Julian Bray.


A DN Media/TradeWinds podcast

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Should the mariner be the fall guy when shadow vessels break sanctions?

    21:07|
    The ceasefire in the Middle East Gulf is over and Iranian forces appear to be attacking merchant vessels even further afield than previously. TradeWinds reporter Matt Coyne tells us how vessel traffic is responding. Read more: US boards VLCC as fighting reignites in GulfMiddle East Gulf tanker shuttle service slows as Iran-US trade blowsThree-quarters of ships in Strait of Hormuz go dark as missiles rain downThe master of a dark fleet tanker is being criminally prosecuted in London for breaching UK sanctions on Russia – the first case of its kind. TradeWinds' Paul Peachey is back from the courtroom with this report.Read more: Master of tanker accused of sanctions busting has trial date set for DecemberCaptain of shadow fleet tanker seized in the Mediterranean released by FranceAll the cool stuff comes out of Copenhagen these days – including maritime finance. TradeWinds' Nordic finance lead Jonas Walgard is back from Denmark to tell us how the sector is evolving, with remarks from Danish Ship Finance CEO Kristian Skovmand.Read more: Danske Bank’s shipping book expands as it takes ‘larger bite out of the market’ financeZeaside Capital targets bigger tankers as platform strategy takes shapeNewbuildings and new customers to drive ‘solid growth’, says Nordea global shipping bossAnd MPC Container Ships is getting into bigger boxships. Ian Lewis speaks to CEO Constantin Baack about what that means for the firm. Read more: MPC Container is following the market, not changing course, says Constantin BaackProduction and host: Holly Birkett.Additional reporting: Matt Coyne, Paul Peachey, Jonas Walsgard, Ian Lewis and Yannick Guerry.A TradeWinds/DN Media podcast  
  • Risky business — are we going back to square one in Hormuz?

    23:38|
    Not even a month after the Strait of Hormuz "re-opened", President Trump has said he considers the ceasefire with Iran to be "OVER!" in the Middle East Gulf.Vessel traffic in the Gulf has responded to the more risky environment. TradeWinds reporter Matt Coyne is here to round up what has been happening.Read more: Ships steer clear of Omani route through Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran deal collapsesTrump says US has agreed to talks with Iran — but ceasefire still ‘OVER!Meanwhile, the northern hemisphere is HOT. El Nino has arrived, according to US authorities, and water levels are falling in major shipping waterways around the world. All eyes are, of course, on the Panama Canal. Ian Lewis joins us to talk about how container lines are passing extra costs on to customers and what we might see next.Read more: How low-water surcharges are becoming the new normal for container shippingPanama Canal braced for El Nino impact as vital waterway cuts lock draught limitsWhy China’s coal surge matters for panamax bulker ownersTradeWinds' gas expert Lucy Hine has spoken to top management at shipowner BW LNG about a new vessel design that could make shipping gas even more efficient. She is here with a snippet from this week's long-form Wavelength Plus podcast.Read more: LNG carriers: Four tanks good, three tanks — even better, BW LNG saysAnd finally, why does shipping — a 'people business' — enjoy a challenge so much? TradeWinds' editor-in-chief Julian Bray tells us about his trip to Barcelona for le grand départ of the Tour de France, and whether the power of 'alternative networking' is behind the rise of shipping businesses sponsoring sports teams and sometimes even buying them. But will shipping ever kick the booze?Read more: Tour de France reveals how cycling truly is ‘the new golf’Shipping teams take on 24 Peaks Challenge for The Seafarers’ CharityProduction and host: Holly Birkett.Additional reporting: Matt Coyne, Ian Lewis, Lucy Hine, Julian Bray and Yannick Guerry.A TradeWinds/DN Media podcast  
  • Faking a Norwegian

    24:28|
    In this week’s episode: TradeWinds has reported on sanctioned tankers often flying false flags, but perhaps none so brazenly as those pretending to fly under the Norwegian International Register. TradeWinds’ Matt Coyne looks at what this means and why it is happening.Read more: Sanctioned tanker tycoon turns to false Norwegian flagShipping is now included in the UK’s emission trading scheme and and any vessel over 5,000 gt is included. TradeWinds talks to Lloyd’s Register and the UK Chamber of Shipping about the impact. Read more: Any large ship calling at a UK port set to fall into new emissions trading schemeShipping researchers at UCL have devised a unique tool to help create a future risk score for tonnage to give financiers and charterers a better understanding of shipowners tonnage. UCL’s Professor Tristan Smith offers the insights. Read more: Climate researchers roll out risk scorecard tool for commercial ship financeProduction and host: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Yannick Guerry, Matt CoyneA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast
  • Deal no deal, the on/off situation in the Gulf

    33:37|
    In this weeks episode:The situation with the Strait of Hormuz remains as confusing as ever, yet despite talks of evacuation corridors and new attacks vessels have been transitingRead more: After the attack: How shipping is navigating fragile Strait of HormuzRead more: Day of violence and threats in Strait of Hormuz as Iran turns back five tankersThe day of the seafarer is a day of celebration of an important role, but with so much to point to how seafarers get treated there is more that needs to be done.Sascha Meijer, new secretary general at seafarer union Nautilus International has a few ideas.We also have an audio postcard from one seafarer to show it is not all bad news.Read more: Stop reinventing the wheel: Union chief on seafarer crisesRead more: Try accused crews in their home countries, union and lawyer urgeUS gears up to make its shipbuilding and shipping industry great (again)Read more: More Senate Republicans join team behind Ships for America ActRead more: Trump’s maritime bill revealed: Much-anticipated legislative proposal handed to US Congress
  • Peace at last? Shipping cautiously resumes as Hormuz re-opens

    21:39|
    It's what shipping has been waiting for since early March: the Strait of Hormuz is re-opening to vessel traffic, following a temporary peace deal signed between the US and Iran this week.The reporters who have been leading TradeWinds' coverage of the conflict — Harry Papachristou, Matt Coyne and Paul Peachey — are here to round up what it will mean for traffic, trade and safety going forward.Read more: Mine spotted in Strait of Hormuz as ship traffic climbsChubb turns to London after failure of $40bn Strait of Hormuz insurance projectUS fully lifts Iran blockade, as Tehran promises swift Hormuz transit handlingTradeWinds' gas expert Lucy Hine is here to talk to us about how Russia is growing its shadow fleet of LNG Carriers and why now.Read more: Russia adds sixth LNG carrier buy of 2026 to its burgeoning shadow fleetRussia poised to deliver second home-grown Arc7 LNG carrier newbuildingAnd after pounding the pavement in New York this week, TradeWinds' finance chief Joe Brady is here to tell us what we can expect after another failed move by Diana Shipping to take over Genco Shipping. Plot twist: could Diana become the acquisition target?Read more: Genco Shipping repels Diana advances in clean-sweep shareholders voteProduction and host: Holly Birkett.Additional reporting: Harry Papachristou, Matt Coyne, Paul Peachey, Lucy Hine, Joe Brady and Yannick Guerry.A TradeWinds/DN Media podcast  
  • War! Huh, what is it good for? Shipping!

    31:37|
    In this episode of TradeWinds’ Wavelength podcast, we look at the spate of attacks by US forces on merchant vessels in the Middle East Gulf region in recent days, including missile strikes which have led to the deaths of seafarers.The attacks have come from all sides as Iran, the US, Russia and Ukraine target shipping, adding heightened risks, but for some hefty rewards.TradeWinds risk correspondent Paul Peachey and reporter Gary Dixon look at the latest attacks and what they mean for shipping.Read more:Ship hit in Strait of Hormuz as Trump talks up peace prospectsUS confirms strike on third Indian-linked tanker off OmanOnassis VLCC sailed for four days with Iranian missile lodged in fuel tankContainer shipping is having a bumper second quarter. We hear from Hapag-Lloyd chief executive Rolf Haben Jansen on how and why, and TradeWinds’ Ian Lewis looks to the near future with a warning.Read more: Hapag-Lloyd chief: Strong demand driving tight container shipping marketThe Sea Cargo Charter signatories published their annual emissions reduction report, benchmarking against the International Maritime’s net-zero trajectory. The gap has not got much smaller.Read more: Sea Cargo Charter emissions reduction stagnates under pressure of global frictionsNorwegian owner Eitzen consolidates tech subsidiary Zen and orders the first fully electric shortsea container vessels.Read more: Eitzen orders electric powered boxship pairProduction and host: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Paul Peachey, Gary Dixon, Ian Lewis, Matt Coyne and Yannick GuerryA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast  
  • Energy transition, Greece v IMO and the shadow of 2008

    30:28|
    In this week's episode of TradeWinds Wavelength podcastCan Greece get what it wants from the IMO when it comes to changing the Net-Zero framework? We heard from George Procopiou, Maria Angelicousis, IMO secretary General Arsenio Dominguez and Bo Cerup-Simonsen, head of the Maersk-McKinney Moller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping:Read more:Big name shipowning trio turn guns on ‘asinine’ Net-Zero Framework‘Unbroken optimism’: IMO boss defies ‘negativity’ to green planIs shipping living in the shadow of another 2008 market crash? To get an angle on that, we hear from Harry Vafias, CEO, The Vafias Group, Polys Hajioannou, Chairman & CEO, Safe Bulkers, Takeshi Hashimoto, Chairman of the Board, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Andrian Dacy, CEO & CIO, J.P. Morgan Asset Management's Global Transportation GroupRead more:‘Euphoria time’: Echoes of 2008 and the canary in the coal mineMore cash in shipping than ever before, says Clarksons Research chiefAnd in Singapore, a big defence summit took place recently: The Shangri-La Dialogue. Our Correspondent Huaqing Ma went to see what it is alloa bout and found shipping came up in many different contexts-Read more:The shipping stories hidden inside the Shangri-La Dialogue‘Shadow fleet is becoming a weapon,’ Australian official tells Shangri-La defence summitAnd in the US, Trump offered a waiver of its Jones Act where US vessels would be used to ship cargoes between US ports. It is the longest waiver of the law in historyA review us under way with the Federal Maritime Commission and the US Maritime Administration asked to give evidenceRead more‘It’s a horrible policy’: Lawmakers take aim at Trump’s historically long Jones Act waiverAudio taken from the TradeWinds Shipowner Forum which took place in Athens during Posidonia. Details of the Forums and how you can be involved can be found here.Host and producer: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Eric Priante Martin, Yannick Guerry, Huaqing Ma, Julian BrayA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast
  • Hafnia offloads and a P&I first as Britannia promotes first female lead underwriter

    23:34|
    In this week's Wavelength episode:Hafnia offloads vessels and kills two of its tanker poolsRead more: Hafnia to wind down two tanker pools in strategy shiftRead more: Hafnia up another $118m on Torm investment with M&A still on the tableBritannia Club, the world’s oldest protection and indemnity club has appointed a woman as chief underwriting officer for the first time in the industry’s 171-year history.Read more: Britannia appoints first female chief underwriter in industry’s 171-year historyCapsize rates rise as bauxite, coal and iron ore volumes increaseRead more: Capesize bulker rates soar to highest level since 2023 as futures curve also risesIndia Register Shipping boss wants class to re-engage with sanctioned tonnage to help keep them safeRead more: Indian Register boss wants dark fleet ships allowed into classAnd from the Wavelength plus podcast, how Anglo-Eastern has responded to crews and ships being stuck on the GulfRead and listen: Podcast: Hormuz crisis reshaping ship management, Anglo-Eastern warnsProducer and host: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Gary Dixon, Paul Peachey, Huaqing Ma and Yannick GuerryA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast
  • Ship ID theft

    21:31|
    In this episode:How two ships ended up having their IDs stolen, including fake websites for insurance and class certification.Read more: UAE seizes tankers after phantom insurance network revealedHow suppliers and tech firms are collaborating to make hydrogen more enticing and available for shipping.Read more: Tech firms come together to unify hydrogen supply for shippingAnd why maritime needs women more than ever.Read more: Shipping firms must plan for when women at sea have childrenProducer and host: Craig EasonAdditional editorial input from: Holly Birkett, Paul Peachey and Yannick GuerryA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast