GCMD, CIMAC form coalition partnership to advance ecosystem readiness for alternative fuels

Photo: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and the International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) have signed a two-year coalition-partnership agreement to strengthen the maritime sector’s preparedness for alternative-fuel deployment.

CIMAC, the leading global nonprofit organization promoting the development of ship propulsion, train drive and power generation, provides an established forum for technical exchange.

GCMD brings complementary implementation experience, from executing pilots and trials across the maritime value chain, to identify the practical implications of deploying decarbonization solutions.

Together, this partnership aims to inform industry action to support the safe and effective adoption of alternative fuels.

Rising demand for alternative fuels, alongside anticipated use of nascent fuels like ammonia as a marine fuel, with ocean-going vessels expected to enter service later this year, present both opportunities and challenges for low- and zero-carbon shipping.

As production of alternative fuels scales and adoption begins, changes to hardware requirements, testing standards, fuel-quality frameworks and safe handling procedures will need to be developed, validated and operationalized.

Under this partnership, insights from GCMD’s pilots will feed into CIMAC working groups, contributing operational experience to inform the drafting of new standards and guidance on engine performance, fuel-quality considerations and deployment readiness.

Conversely, GCMD can leverage CIMAC’s deep technical expertise to ensure that its trials are aligned with evolving engine technologies, fuel specifications and industry practices.

GCMD works with stakeholders across the maritime value chain to execute pilots and trials, while CIMAC, through its annual congress and technical working groups, convenes industry experts on propulsion and fuel technologies and holds consultative status at the International Maritime Organization.

By combining their respective networks, GCMD and CIMAC aim to engage upstream and downstream stakeholders, as well as regulators, to collaboratively tackle key maritime-industry challenges.

“Following my keynote at the CIMAC 2025 Congress, discussions with CIMAC’s leadership quickly revealed strong alignment and complementary strengths,” said GCMD CEO Lynn Loo. “As alternative fuels introduce new chemistries and properties, solutions designed for today’s fuels will not automatically apply tomorrow. This partnership reflects our joint commitment to addressing these challenges through collaboration that is grounded in technical expertise and operational evidence.”

CIMAC President Rick Boom added, “CIMAC collaborates closely with international partners to drive solutions for maritime transformation, contribute technical expertise to regulatory processes and accelerate the decarbonization of shipping. Its partnership with GCMD supports the development of standards and strategies for alternative fuels and sustainable-propulsion systems aligned with global environmental goals. Together, CIMAC and GCMD aim to deliver practical, forward-looking solutions that speed the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future for shipping.”