Can the free market enable a transparent, carbon-neutral bunker supply chain?

Thetius analyst and US correspondent Patrick Finn considers the importance of free market participation in setting the pace and direction of carbon neutrality in shipping by bringing data and supply-chain transparency to the fore.  But in a world where technological barriers are too often overcome by nominal credit trading, how can the shipping industry and commerce at-large ensure that high quality offsets remain the de facto currency? 

There are few discussion points within the maritime industry that spark as much debate as to what the fuels of the future will be. Over the past century of ocean trade, ships have burned various carbon based fossil fuels that have evidently contributed to climate change. Today, all options remain on the table. From gaseous ammonia to nuclear fuel, a single identifiable solution remains elusive. While a silver bullet is as yet undiscovered, the fact remains that achieving true carbon neutrality is a much deeper challenge than simply altering the design of an engine or increasing the availability of alternative fuels.