Tanker shipping weighs up alternative fuels, nuclear options

SeaTec managing director Tino Rizzo and OSM Thome business development manager Torbjorn Lie presented diverging but complementary views on shipping’s decarbonisation pathways at the International Chemical and Product Tanker Conference 2025, held in London at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel on 23-24 April 2025

Speaking first, Mr Rizzo emphasised the immediate necessity for operational improvements and energy efficiency measures alongside longer-term fuel shifts.

"We believe the new fuels will be the solution," he said, "but there is a call for action today."

He warned waiting for the availability of low- or zero-carbon fuels risks inaction at a critical time for regulatory compliance and fleet competitiveness.

Mr Rizzo noted while much attention is given to future fuels, substantial reductions in emissions could be achieved through better operational practices, hull maintenance and retrofits.

"The hull is by far the most important element of the fuel consumption," he observed.

Hull fouling, if left unchecked, can lead to increases in fuel consumption of between 10 and 20%, he stated.

SeaTec’s approach is based on assessing each vessel individually, ranking possible improvements by return on investment and operational impact.

"There is no silver bullet," Mr Rizzo cautioned. "Each type of vessel has different needs and requirements."

He further stressed the need for collaboration across the value chain to overcome the mismatch between investment costs borne by shipowners and fuel cost savings enjoyed by charterers, "We should be building the highways together," he said.

Mr Rizzo also flagged future capacity constraints, remarking, "There are not enough shipyards in the world to replace the entire fleet in 20 years," reinforcing his argument for immediate action on the existing fleet.