Australia releases Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan

The Australian Government has released its Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan (MERNAP), outlining practical actions government and industry can take to continue decarbonisation of the maritime sector while maintaining the competitiveness and resilience of the country’s shipping industry.

Released on August 26, the plan covers ports, shipping, energy, domestic commercial vessels, regulation and workforce development, identifying actions government and industry can take to support Australia’s net-zero emissions target and contribute to the decarbonisation of international shipping.

Australia’s maritime sector already employs nearly 29,000 people and contributes $3.8 billion to the economy annually. The MERNAP highlights new maritime jobs, industry and opportunities that can be harnessed in the long term, if the sector prioritises lowering emissions in the short term. Priorities include supporting investment in port infrastructure and operations that accelerate decarbonisation, reducing regulatory burden for emerging maritime technology, upskilling the maritime workforce, and developing a bunkering strategy to guide investment in green fuel storage and port infrastructure.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the recent conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated how critical it is to build resilience and sustainability within Australia’s maritime industry.

Maritime Industry Australia Ltd (MIAL) welcomed the release, describing it as an important signpost for an industry facing some of the most complex challenges in the transition to net zero. The plan was announced at the welcome ceremony for the new world-first battery-powered CSL vessel MV Yampu, with MIAL saying MERNAP will give much-needed clarity to the industry, helping guide long-term investment decisions and deployment of capital towards new builds, fleet acquisitions and retrofitting.

MIAL CEO Angela Gillham said the announcement provides a roadmap for the transition to zero and near-zero emission shipping, but cautioned that Australia’s maritime decarbonisation efforts must remain closely aligned with the global approach led by the IMO. MIAL, which has long advocated for a national maritime decarbonisation pathway, said shipping is a notoriously hard-to-abate sector, with the vessels, fuels and infrastructure required for the transition involving significant capital investment and long investment horizons, meaning industry needs clear and consistent signals from government to make those decisions with confidence.