Jamaica advances dialogue on alternative marine fuels and regional pathways

A national stakeholder workshop on the potential supply and demand of alternative marine fuels in Jamaica was convened in Kingston in collaboration with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica and the International Maritime Organization's GreenVoyage2050 programme. This workshop (26 January) brought together a diverse group of public and private sector stakeholders to discuss Jamaica's role in the maritime energy transition.

The workshop formed part of an ongoing national study assessing Jamaica's current and future demand for alternative marine fuels, alongside feasible supply pathways, infrastructure requirements and enabling conditions. Participants included representatives from government ministries, port authorities, terminal operators, energy stakeholders, industry and academia, reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of maritime decarbonization.

Opening the workshop, Mr. Bertrand Smith, Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, underscored Jamaica's strategic maritime importance and the value of evidence-based planning:

"This study and workshop are timely and important for Jamaica. As a major transshipment hub with an established bunkering role, Jamaica must be proactive in understanding how alternative marine fuels may shape future shipping and port operations. The insights from this work will help inform national decision-making while positioning Jamaica to contribute meaningfully to regional discussions."

During the workshop, the study team led by the consultancy firm Haskoning presented initial analytical findings on shipping demand, port activity, fuel uptake scenarios and renewable energy potential, followed by interactive breakout discussions on demand and supply dynamics. Stakeholders provided practical input on port readiness, infrastructure constraints, market signals and regulatory considerations, helping to ground the analysis in Jamaica's national and port-level realities.

Mr. Subaskar Sitsabeshan, Programme Officer for the IMO-GreenVoyage2050 Programme, said:

"GreenVoyage2050 is designed to help countries move from ambition to implementation by grounding maritime decarbonization efforts in robust evidence and practical analysis. Through this study and the associated regional dialogue, Jamaica is building the evidence base needed to make informed decisions on alternative fuels, while also identifying practical next steps for ports, energy systems, and the wider maritime sector."

The outcomes of the Jamaica study and workshop discussions will feed into the Regional Maritime Alternative Fuels Roundtable on Unlocking Maritime Decarbonization in the Caribbean, to be held later this week in Trinidad and Tobago, where regional recommendations and financing pathways will be further discussed.

GreenVoyage2050 Programme

GreenVoyage2050 is a technical cooperation programme initiated by the International Maritime Organization to assist developing countries in reducing GHG emissions from shipping, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

Now in its second phase (2024-2030), GreenVoyage2050 is supporting partner countries in developing National Action Plans (NAPs) as well as implementing pilot projects to test solutions for reducing GHG emissions from ships.

Leveraging funding from the Governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, the GreenVoyage2050 Programme continues to expand, with new countries added each year.