Let’s focus on the fact that shipping companies are greener than their reputation in International Shipping News 28/05/2026 I f you only follow the headlines in the media, you could easily get the impression that the green transition of shipping has stalled. Fortunately, this is not the case. Admittedly, the negotiations at the IMO in 2025 ended without the breakthrough many had hoped for, because the countries could not agree on key issues. However, it’s not as simple as that. While major political compromises are still a long way off, progress is actually being made within the shipping industry. A good example is the latest meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84), which took place at the end of April. Work on the global climate framework for shipping continued here, and new working group meetings have been scheduled for 2026 to help bring countries closer to reaching an agreement. At the same time, concrete steps have been taken that will affect the day-to-day operations of shipping companies. For instance, the IMO approved new technical guidelines for measuring methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ship engines, as well as new frameworks for engines using alternative fuels, such as ammonia, methanol, and ethanol. But shipping companies are also making an effort. When I speak to shipping companies around the world, it’s clear that they recognize the need for shipping to contribute to the green transition. They realize that they can only reduce the emissions they are aware of. Until now, too many decisions have been based on calculations, averages and assumptions, which are often uncertain and misleading. However, I can sense a growing realization that, if we are serious about reducing CO2, NOx, SOx, black carbon and methane emissions, we must measure what ships actually emit. Just two years ago, we often encountered hesitation when the conversation turned to advanced measurement equipment that can give shipowners an overview of em