The maritime industry is manoeuvring towards the destination of decarbonisation, but the unpredictable route, and ever-increasing complexity of the journey, creates major challenges for all ocean stakeholders. Skuld's executive underwriter Matias Bøe Olsen assesses how underwriters can help create certainty and trust in tomorrow in uncertain times. How do you assess risks for shipowners looking at 25-30-years vessel lifecycles when no one seems to know what's going to happen tomorrow? How will the industry hit regulatory targets without a 'silver bullet' fuel solution? Why are you smiling Matias? Matias Bøe Olsen has remarkable poise and maturity for someone comparatively new to the shipping industry. The big questions don't appear to derail him; simply putting him on track to deliver answers rooted in understanding, research and, with his education in marine engineering, a solid appreciation of technical considerations. "We need to take things one step at a time," he says calmly. "Sustainability is a challenge, of course, but specialist underwriters can help. In fact, I'd go as far to say that the function of underwriting is actually sustainability in practice." Responsible role What Matias, an Executive Underwriter with Skuld's sustainability group, means by this is manifold. Firstly, there's the 'bread and butter' aspects of assessing risk and setting P&I premiums that are commensurate with any potential third-party liabilities – for example cleaning up an oil spill, or safely removing a wreck. So, there's clear environmental responsibility. The premiums also have to be sustainable to in terms of Skuld's operations, and its members' businesses, while providing an adequate safety net to meet all future claims. And this is where, from a sustainable perspective, things get a little complicated. Despite the fact that Skuld has over 125 years' experience in assessing maritime's ever-evolving risk picture, the situation the industry, and indeed the world, currently