Viet Nam lays groundwork for National Action Plan on maritime decarbonisation

Viet Nam is accelerating the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) on maritime decarbonisation, supported by the SMART-C GHG Project. A kick-off workshop (23-24 October) in Ha Noi, Viet Nam brought together key national stakeholders to align the country's maritime sector with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

Organised under the SMART-C GHG Project - implemented by IMO and funded by the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries - the event was hosted by the Viet Nam Maritime Administration (VIMAWA) with technical input from the World Maritime University (WMU). The Project supports the collection and analysis of national maritime emissions data and the formulation NAPs to drive decarbonisation across Asia.

In his opening speech, Mr. Hoang Hong Giang, Deputy Administrator of VIMAWA called for stronger national data collection systems, enhanced inter-agency coordination, and policy coherence with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

Workshop sessions explored NAP frameworks, methodological approaches to GHG data collection, and policy alignment with global targets. Prof. Aykut I. Ölcer, WMU's Director of Maritime Research, led discussions on best practices for emissions data management and NAP formulation.

Dedicated working sessions engaged representatives from VIMAWA, Viet Nam Register, port authorities, shipping companies, and training institutions to review current practices, identify data gaps, and discuss regulatory challenges.

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to advance Viet Nam's National Action Plan as a strategic instrument to guide the transition towards low- and zero-carbon shipping. Participants outlined priority actions and capacity-building needs under the SMART-C GHG Project.

Moving forward, IMO and VIMAWA will continue to collaborate on technical assessments and draft policy measures to support effective, sustainable implementation of the NAP.