Carriers say they bear green transition costs as shippers resist paying more

· Logistics · Singapore

Shipping lines say they are carrying the cost of investments in alternative fuels and lower-emission vessels while shippers and their freight forwarders remain reluctant to pay more for greener shipping, according to speakers at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition. The comments frame a core tension in maritime decarbonization: carriers must fund fuel and fleet upgrades, but passing those costs through to cargo owners is proving difficult. The item does not give figures on the investment or the green premium being sought. How that cost gap is resolved will shape fuel choices, chartering decisions and the pace of fleet renewal across the industry.

Why it matters：Who pays for greener shipping determines whether carriers can fund fuel transitions and fleet renewal, making the cost split between carriers and cargo owners a defining issue for maritime decarbonization.

Key points

  • Carriers say they bear the cost of alternative-fuel and lower-emission vessel investments.
  • Shippers and forwarders remain reluctant to pay more for greener shipping, per conference speakers.
  • No figures on investment or green premium were provided.

Sources (original reporting)

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