Baku: Azerbaijan is set to retire multiple outdated vessels as part of its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with international maritime regulations. Under the ‘Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships’ adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2018 and updated in 2023, the aim is to cut annual emissions from international shipping by 20 percent by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050.

According to Trend News Agency, the Azerbaijani Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) has devised a Strategy and Action Plan to fulfill these objectives. The initial phase, scheduled from 2024 to 2027, involves the decommissioning of 65 obsolete vessels with a collective deadweight of 26,595 tons, projected to decrease emissions from the company’s fleet by about 25 percent. Additionally, ASCO plans to introduce 17 new, more fuel-efficient vessels during this period to renew and modernize its fleet.

The second phase, spanning 2027-2030, will see the construction or acq
uisition of methanol-fueled and electric vessels, alongside upgrades to existing ships. This stage includes plans to build and deploy five methanol-powered support vessels, five passenger vessels, seven tankers, and four electric-powered harbor tugs, while retrofitting eight vessels for methanol conversion. With the introduction of blue methanol, emissions are expected to decline by up to 10 percent.

Transitioning to alternative fuels is scheduled for the third phase, from 2030 to 2040, supporting IMO’s target of a 70-80 percent reduction in emissions compared to 2008 levels. The final phase, between 2040 and 2050, aims for a complete switch to alternative fuels and zero-emission technologies, aligning with the IMO’s goal of achieving 100 percent emission reduction.

ASCO’s short-term plan outlines completion of the first three phases by 2030, with efforts already underway to secure financial backing for accelerating the shift to methanol-powered ships by 2027.