Sustainability transition of shipping: drivers, requirements, and positions

Abstract

The Global Shipping Industry is facing enormous challenges in the next years. There is an urgent problem to be solved. Meeting the ambitious decarbonization goals is the biggest challenge shipping is facing. Traditionally seen as a large polluter, the shipping industry is not exempted from taking large steps to drastically decrease their CO2 emissions and contribute to reaching the Paris Agreement (2015). There are three main drivers for sustainable development: 1. Regulatory and Institutional pressures. 2. Market factors and resource availability issues. 3. Social pressure and ecological awareness. This thesis investigates through qualitative research how shipping companies experience the drivers and how they react to them. The barriers to sustainable development are highlighted, and the requirements for companies to become more sustainable are identified and divided between technical and organizational requirements. Through interviews with key figures in the sustainable development of shipping companies, this research aims to demonstrate the need for positions with environmental knowledge and what the requirements are for these positions. The new positions identified are the Sustainability Controller, the Environmental Officer, and Miscellaneous positions. In addition, Seamen and Officers onboard ships were found to require environmental awareness and knowledge. The current environmental knowledge included in the STCW requirements, and in maritime educations were compared with the requirements for these environmental positions. This made it possible to conclude if the current level of environmental knowledge in education is sufficient for the demands of the future.