Eni, Fincantieri and RINA unveil study on maritime-transport decarbonization

Shipbuilder Fincantieri announced April 1 that it, alongside Eni and RINA, presented the “Sustainable Maritime Transport Outlook” in Rome, a study that provides what Fincantieri said is the first comprehensive global overview of the options, impacts and investments needed to enable a more sustainable maritime industry.

The study, developed with the technical support of Bain & Co. Italy, was presented in the presence of Italy’s minister for the environment and energy security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.

The work aims to contribute to accelerating the decarbonization of the maritime-transport sector, in line with the net-zero target for 2050.

It forms part of the broader framework of the agreement signed March 25, 2024, by Eni, Fincantieri and RINA, with the shared goal of establishing a global observatory to monitor and assess the medium- to long-term evolution of sustainable decarbonization solutions for the sector.

The maritime industry is responsible for approximately 3 percent of global CO2 emissions and is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

To reach this goal, a clear and realistic roadmap is essential—one that minimizes uncertainty and risk for investors while offering practical, economically viable solutions for the entire industry.

Addressing this need through a holistic approach, the study provides for the first time a global overview of viable decarbonization options tailored to different vessel segments and regions worldwide.

It also integrates volume assessments with a comprehensive analysis of cost implications for shipowners and the investment requirements across the logistics- and port-infrastructure chain.

In the short term, the energy carriers most capable of reducing CO2 emissions include:

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG)—a fossil fuel with lower carbon intensity, though it requires significant infrastructure investments for storage, handling and bunkering at ports.

• Biofuels—including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, which can be used in its pure form without the need for infrastructure upgrades; and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesel, which Fincantieri said “faces significant limitations when used in its pure form.”

Over the long term, biofuels—including the emergence of bio-LNG and biomethanol—are expected to remain the primary solution for the merchant-shipping sector.

Synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen, along with hydrogen itself, are also likely to gain traction in specific applications such as low- and medium-power cruise ships as their competitiveness improves and supply chains continue to develop.

“A year ago, together with Fincantieri and RINA, we committed to developing a global observatory focused on the evolving landscape of sustainable decarbonization solutions for the maritime sector,” said Giuseppe Ricci, Eni’s chief operating officer for industrial transformation. “This study—the result of combined expertise, resources and technologies from key industry players—has produced a clear and actionable framework that can guide the development and implementation of impactful initiatives to decarbonize maritime transport across various segments, while considering the full supply chain. As also recognized at the EU level, there is growing consensus that biofuels—particularly those already available and usable in their pure form, like HVO—are among the most effective solutions currently available to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the maritime sector.”

Pierroberto Folgiero, the CEO and general manager of Fincantieri, added, “Decarbonizing maritime transport is a challenge that demands industrial vision and the ability to turn innovation into real-world solutions. The ‘Sustainable Maritime Transport Outlook’ presented today marks a strategic step in that direction—an integrated analysis grounded in real data and scenarios, developed with the support of leading players across the sector. This is also the foundation for our commitment to establish a global observatory, reinforcing our role in driving the transition toward lower environmental impact, while creating value and ensuring competitiveness throughout the entire ship lifecycle. With our net-zero ship goal set for 2035, Fincantieri is looking ahead, leading the change and integrating technology and sustainability to stay competitive in the long term.”

Carlo Luzzatto, the CEO and general manager of RINA, stated, “Knowledge transfer is a key enabler in accelerating the energy transition. Our ability to bring together expertise and experience from different sectors—particularly energy and maritime, where we have a long-standing presence—allows us to develop effective decarbonization solutions. Partnerships like this one with Eni and Fincantieri are essential for turning innovation into practical applications, creating value for all players across the shipping and transport value chain.”

Pierluigi Serlenga, the managing partner at Bain & Co. Italy, said, “Industry stakeholders and investors need a clear vision to guide technological choices and investment strategies. With this first edition of the observatory, we’ve delivered a valuable tool to help interpret the evolution of the fuel mix in both the short and long term. Starting around 2040, new solutions will gradually be adopted on specific routes and use cases, complementing biofuels and LNG—although the latter will need to come from biobased sources. It’s therefore critical to develop a roadmap for upgrading Italy’s port infrastructure to ensure it remains competitive and central to future low-emission maritime routes. We estimate that by 2050, around 24-billion euros (USD$26.6 billion) in investments will be needed across the European port system—a significant share of which represents a real business opportunity for the Italian maritime value chain.”