The maritime industry is under pressure to decarbonize. IMO targets, EU regulations, and cargo owners demanding greener supply chains are driving massive change. With change comes opportunity.
New Roles Being Created
Sustainability Manager
Oversees environmental compliance, carbon reporting, and sustainability strategy. Common in larger shipping companies now.
Decarbonization Specialist
Focuses specifically on reducing vessel emissions. Works on fuel strategies, retrofits, and new technologies.
Alternative Fuels Expert
LNG, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen - someone needs to understand these. Technical and operational roles around new fuel types are growing.
Carbon Analyst
Measures, reports, and optimizes carbon footprint. Important for CII compliance and carbon credit trading.
Green Technology Project Manager
Manages installation of scrubbers, wind-assist systems, battery hybrids, and other green tech.
ESG Reporting Specialist
Handles environmental, social, and governance reporting. Increasingly required by investors and stakeholders.
Skills in Demand
- Understanding of IMO regulations (EEXI, CII, EU ETS)
- Carbon accounting and lifecycle analysis
- Knowledge of alternative fuels and propulsion
- Data analysis for emissions optimization
- Project management for retrofit projects
How to Get Started
If you're interested in this direction:
- Take courses on maritime decarbonization (Lloyd's, DNV offer good ones)
- Understand the regulatory landscape
- Follow developments - this field changes fast
- Highlight any environmental projects in your CV
This is one of the fastest-growing areas in maritime. Companies need people who understand both shipping and sustainability. If that's you, now's the time to position yourself.
