Collaboration and alignment: turning ambition into action

Net zero is not delivered by individual actors, but by systems that move together.

Across all segments of the maritime and offshore sectors, one message emerges with clarity: the transition to net zero cannot be delivered by any single actor in isolation. It is a system-wide transformation that requires alignment across shipowners and operators, charterers, fuel suppliers, ports, technology providers, classification societies, financiers and regulators.

Fragmented progress risks inefficiency, duplicated effort and increased safety and commercial risk. Coordinated action, by contrast, has the potential to accelerate learning, reduce uncertainty and build confidence across the value chain.

Equally important is collaboration at the operational level. 

The deployment of new fuels, energy systems and digital tools demands early and continuous engagement between designers, builders, operators and end users. 

Lessons learned from pilot projects, trials and early adopters must be shared openly, enabling the wider industry to benefit from practical experience rather than repeating avoidable mistakes. 

Transparency, data sharing and open dialogue are critical enablers of collective progress.

Finally, collaboration must extend to people. 

Training initiatives, competence frameworks and safety culture development benefit from collective effort and shared resources. 

Cross-industry partnerships can help standardise training approaches, build confidence in new technologies and support workforce mobility across sectors. 

Inclusivity, openness and trust are not abstract values; they are practical requirements for managing complexity and change at scale.