By Seun Ibiyemi
A former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has urged shipping companies and maritime stakeholders to embrace decarbonisation and green maritime practices, describing them as critical drivers of competitiveness, profitability and long-term sustainability rather than mere regulatory obligations.
Peterside, a maritime regulation and compliance expert, made the call while delivering the keynote address at a high-level webinar organised by Naturehedge in collaboration with the West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI), Gregory University, SSA Hub and the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (SEPAN).
Speaking on the theme, “Green Maritime: Strategy and Operations Beyond Optics,” he said the global shipping industry is entering an era where environmental sustainability directly influences operational costs, access to finance, profitability and the licence to operate.
“Green maritime is about environmentally sustainable practices, technologies and policies that reduce impact on the environment,” Peterside said.
He stressed that shipping companies must move beyond symbolic environmental commitments and integrate sustainability into their core business strategies to remain competitive.
According to him, organisations that successfully combine decarbonisation, digitalisation, innovation and operational excellence will be better positioned to thrive as global environmental regulations become more stringent.
Peterside noted that with tighter International Maritime Organization (IMO) carbon-intensity regulations and the expansion of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for shipping taking effect in 2026, operators must adopt practical measures to reduce emissions while improving efficiency.
He identified voyage optimisation, just-in-time port arrivals, adoption of alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia and liquefied natural gas (LNG), deployment of digital technologies and enhanced safety-focused training as key strategies for achieving operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
The webinar attracted shipowners, shipping operators, port authorities, financiers, regulators and energy sector stakeholders from across the region.
Participants agreed that while regulatory compliance is essential, the real competitive advantage lies in embedding sustainability into operational processes, data management and financing strategies.
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Also speaking at the event, President of the Governing Council of REEEAA and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SEPAN, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, announced that the webinar serves as a precursor to a major pan-African strategic workshop on maritime decarbonisation scheduled to hold in Accra, Ghana.
Managing Director of Damen Shipyards South Africa, Madam Hermione Manuel, also underscored the commercial benefits of green maritime, highlighting the company’s hybrid vessel initiatives as examples of how sustainability can enhance operational efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Organisers said the webinar series will continue periodically ahead of the planned physical workshop in Accra, with the objective of strengthening Africa’s technical and operational capacity in maritime decarbonisation and sustainable shipping.
