Stena Bulk Targeting Net Zero Emissions by 2050

Swedish tanker shipping company Stena Bulk on Thursday outlined its roadmap to become a net zero business by 2050, including a transiion to cleaner burning alternative fuels and eventually zero emissions shipping options.

The company set five dated decarbonization targets, the first of which was achieved in 2020 when Stena Bulk began offering customers low-carbon shipping options based on the use of biofuels and an internal carbon emissions offsetting program with up to a 100% reduction of CO2 emissions. 

Stena Bulk will require every new ship in its fleet from 2030 to come with a roadmap to be upgraded to carbon neutral status, either by retrofitting new technology or switching to carbon neutral fuels. Next year Stena Bulk will launch the first of three planned carbon neutral-ready, methanol fueled vessels in collaboration with Proman. This methanol fueled vessel will also be able to be operated on VLFSO and is aimed to come into service 18 years ahead of Stena Bulk’s ambition to become one of the first carbon neutral vessel operators in the world by 2040.

The company recently unveiled vessel design InfinityMAX concept, which is its take on zero emissions, self-sufficient and flexible seaborne transportation. Stena Bulk said it aims to have a ship with a similar design to the InfinityMAX concept operating on the water by 2035 at the latest.

By 2040, Stena Bulk aims to achieve the fourth target in its decarbonization plan by becoming a fully carbon neutral tanker operator. Some of the company’s vessels will be zero emissions, some will run on carbon neutral fuels, and there will be carbon emissions offsetting programs in place to fully achieve the carbon neutral operations goal.

The company will achieve its final milestone in 2050, when it is targeting becoming a fully net zero emissions business. This means that Stena Bulk will not only take accountability for its operations and the indirect emissions connected to the business, but also for the cargo carried by its vessels.

By 2050, all cargo carried by the Stena Bulk fleet will need to be climate neutral, which will become a shared responsibility between Stena Bulk and its customers.

Erik Hånell, president and CEO, Stena Bulk, said, “The shipping industry collectively faces a challenge where we must consider how we alter our entire energy needs. In order to decarbonize, the maritime community must take risks, push sustainability boundaries, and embrace a partnership approach that enhances collaboration between industry partners and customers.

“The set of decarbonization targets and wider roadmap that we are presenting today is another example of Stena Bulk’s commitment to a sustainable shipping future, and we are immensely proud to be one of the first industry players to propose a plan that makes our own net zero journey tangible, achievable, and measurable. This is a challenging and demanding path ahead of us that we remain prepared and eager to explore, and we look forward to working across the sector to achieve our goals.”