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2025 Journal Impact Factor - 0.8
2025 CiteScore - 1.6
ISSN 2083-6473
ISSN 2083-6481 (electronic version)
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor
Prof. Tomasz Neumann
Published by
TransNav, Faculty of Navigation
Gdynia Maritime University
3, John Paul II Avenue
81-345 Gdynia, POLAND
e-mail transnav@umg.edu.pl
Reducing Carbon Emissions in the Maritime Sector for a Green Transition: Current Status and Future Perspectives
M. Saka 1
1 Piri Reis University, Istanbul, Turkey
ABSTRACT: Vessels carrying goods in global trade produce approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To reduce or even eliminate this contribution caused by ships, studies are being conducted on alternative fuels and new technologies to replace fossil fuels. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which coordinates the maritime sector's activities at the international level, has set targets and implemented various regulations in this direction. These targets set by the IMO are actually challenging targets for maritime transportation operators. Beyond the need for technological advancement, they also require significant resource allocation from an economic perspective. This study describes the current situation and measures taken on GHG emissions from the Maritime Sector and provides an overview of the means that can be used to achieve the targets. The results of the study show that there are various alternatives that can substitute fossil fuels, but technological developments are needed for their widespread use. However, the solutions expected are both financial and technical. It is assessed that the industry's practical capacity for green transformation is not yet aligned with IMO's regulations, and a multi-actor, coordinated approach is needed to achieve this.
KEYWORDS: Maritime Transport, International Maritime Organization (IMO), Emission Reduction, Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), Greenhouse Gas (GHG), Energy Efficiency, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Marine Alternative Fuels
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Citation note:
Saka M.: Reducing Carbon Emissions in the Maritime Sector for a Green Transition: Current Status and Future Perspectives. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 20, No. 3, doi:10.12716/1001.20.03.12, pp. 641-651, 2026
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