Op-Ed: Is decarbonization driving unintended consequences?

Peter Soles

By Peter Soles, Principal, Business Development at Glosten 

In recent years, the messaging around alternative fuels and zero emission vessels in marine industry magazines, online forums, news websites, and social media has been a steady stream, bordering on a wide-open fire hydrant. As a result, many in the U.S. maritime community—me included—are experiencing what I’ll term “decarb fatigue.” And it’s not just because we’re jaded old-timers.

Pretend for a moment that you’re new to the industry, reading through this daily press on vessel decarbonization. The buzz might lead you to believe that a fast-moving green wave is sweeping across the commercial vessel market, with everyone racing to adopt zero-emission technologies and begin modernizing their fleets. This may be true elsewhere, but in the US, this is not at all what’s happening—it’s more like total paralysis. The stagnation is driven by four interrelated challenges: high CapEx/new