In this report, “non-profit” pertains to organisations functioning for social or charitable objectives without pursuing profit, while “government bodies” indicate the distinct branches and agencies accountable for public governance and service provision.
20 non-profit organisations and government bodies have been selected by Thetius and are profiled below.
Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA)
HQ: Netherlands
Employee Count: 11-50
Year Founded: 2019
Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) is a nonprofit, independent organisation founded in 2019 by leading container shipping companies. DCSA’s mission is to set industry standards for interoperable IT solutions, fostering a foundation for technological advancement. Collaborating with member carriers, DCSA develops vendor-neutral, technology-agnostic standards for IT and non-competitive business practices. Through the widespread adoption of these standards, DCSA’s goal is to enhance customer experience, efficiency, collaboration, innovation, and environmental sustainability in the shipping industry.
Notable for:
- Publishing a guide along with its member MSC to help maritime organisations transition from paper based bills of lading to electronic bills of lading (eBL).
- Partnering with Hapag-Lloyd to issue electronic bills of lading (eBL) using the IQAX eBL via GSBN’s digital infrastructure. This initiative ensures compliance with the latest DCSA eBL API, promoting standardised data exchange.
- Forming a partnership with Pacific International Lines to develop maritime digitalisation standards, including eBLs.
Enova
HQ: Norway
Employee Count: 51-250
Year Founded: 2001
Enova is a state enterprise based in Trondheim, managed by the Ministry of Climate and the Environment (KLD). It operates under a governance agreement from 2021 to 2024, focusing on reducing non-quota-obligatory greenhouse gas emissions and fostering technology development and innovation to aid Norway’s transition to a low-emission society by 2050. Enova supports late-phase technology development and early market introduction to achieve lasting market changes. The organisation provides financial support to companies and individuals, reducing risks and encouraging the adoption of new, emission-free technologies.
Notable for:
- Granting NOK 146 million to Höegh Autoliners for upgrading two Aurora Class vessels to ammonia-capable status, with new ammonia engines and additional fuel tanks.
- Granting $15.5 million to Viasea Shipping to develop two hydrogen-powered containerships with rotor sails, aiming to enhance efficiency and lower emissions.
- Enova was also awarded over NOK 40 million to support the world’s first ammonia-powered containership project by Yara Clean Ammonia and NorthSea Container Line.
European Commission
HQ: Belgium
Employee Count: 10K-50K
Year Founded: 1958
The European Commission serves as the executive body of the European Union, advocating for and safeguarding the collective interests of its member states independently of national governments. It drafts legislation that is later adopted by the Council and the Parliament, oversees the EU budget, and administers policy programs spanning agriculture, fisheries, research, and more.
Notable for:
- Participating in Bound4blue’s €15.9 million Series A funding round, supporting the advancement of their automated wind-assisted propulsion systems for maritime transport.
- Allocating €17 million to the GAMMA project, which aims to make ocean transport and trade more environmentally friendly. The €17 million will be used to convert a bulk carrier to run on e-fuels and ultimately reduce the reliance on ocean transport of fossil fuels.
- Providing support to Ørsted’s FlagshipONE project, Europe’s largest e-methanol plant. The e-methanol plant aims to produce 50,000 tonnes annually by 2025.
German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
HQ: Germany
Employee Count: 1K-5K
Year Founded: 1949
The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) serves as the highest federal authority overseeing all transport, mobility, and digital matters within Germany. Employing 1,300 staff across nine departments, including Digital Society, Air Transport, Waterways and Shipping. It operates from headquarters located in a historic building in Berlin.
Notable for:
- Supporting Norsepower in delivering a rotor sail to a Baltrader cement carrier. The rotor sail saves fuel and cuts emissions by up to 14%.
- Its contributions of approximately $3 million to Advent Technologies’ RiverCell 3 project, aimed at developing a maritime fuel cell with a capacity exceeding 500kW.
- Awarding a subsidy under the Namkü directive to Gerdes Green for fully electric, wind-assisted Damen Combi Freighter vessels, chartered by Cargill.
Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
HQ: Singapore
Employee Count: 1-10
Year Founded: 2021
The mission of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) is to drive the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. Aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 through strategic initiatives across four pillars: shaping standards, deploying solutions, financing projects, and fostering collaboration. The organisation is focused on pilots and trials conducted under real-world conditions, ensuring insights gained can be swiftly applied to industry challenges.
Notable for:
- Announcing plans to commence vessel trials in 2025 with crude algae oil as a drop-in fuel. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that biofuels derived from algae-based fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% compared to fossil fuels.
- Its 5 year partnership with NYK to enhance low-carbon solution pilots and trials, advancing clear pathways for global shipping sector decarbonisation efforts.
- Its collaboration with GSBN to form a knowledge partnership to facilitate secure and scalable data exchange, bridging the transparency gap between digitalisation and decarbonisation in the shipping industry.
Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN)
HQ: Hong Kong
Employee Count: 1-10
Year Founded: 2019
Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) is a not-for-profit technology consortium revolutionising the shipping industry and global trade through a blockchain-enabled operating system. This platform facilitates secure data sharing among diverse stakeholders across global supply chains and financial institutions. GSBN’s Cargo Release product, operational in China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America, streamlines the cargo release process from 2 to 3 days to just 1 to 2 hours, offering an efficient, paperless solution for trade facilitation.
Notable for:
- Welcoming NLSC as a member, enhancing digitally integrated land and sea trade routes between Asia and Europe through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
- Partnering with Hapag-Lloyd to implement IQAX electronic bills of lading (eBLs) via its digital infrastructure, ensuring seamless compliance with DCSA eBL API version 3.0 for enhanced electronic bill of lading issuance capabilities.
- Partnering with COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation and COSCO SHIPPING Bulk to enable the issuance of eBLs for energy and bulk shipments, enhancing supply chain security and transparency through its blockchain platform.
Innovate UK
HQ: United Kingdom
Employee Count: 251-1000
Year Founded: 2007
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, the UK’s innovation agency. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services. Innovate UK connects businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn these ideas into commercially successful products and services.
Notable for:
- Supporting Project Verdant, which aims to retrofit a hydrogen fuel cell in a Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) to reduce CO2 and NOx emissions in offshore wind farm operations.
- Supporting Anemoi Marine Technologies’ £1.2 million project to develop and test a new 3.5m diameter by 24.5m high rotor sail design. This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK.
- Through Innovate UK’s innovation competitions, the UK government has pledged $43 million for CMDC4 for maritime decarbonisation, bringing the total investment to $165 million since 2021.
International Windship Association (IWSA)
HQ: United Kingdom
Employee Count: 1-10
Year Founded: 2014
The International Windship Association (IWSA) drives the adoption of wind propulsion in commercial shipping by fostering collaboration among stakeholders. IWSA promotes the economic benefits of wind propulsion, facilitates funding and project collaboration, educates through information dissemination, and advocates for policies and incentives.
Notable for:
- Successfully completing the EU-funded WASP project, which retrofitted five vessels with wind-assist systems and validated performance through third-party verification and trials.
- Its partnership with MCST to establish the Pacific Wind Propulsion Hub, fostering regional capacity-building and promoting wind propulsion technology to curb GHG emissions from Pacific shipping.
- IWSA also reported 37 wind-powered and 11 wind-ready ships in operation, totaling 2.5 million dwt as of late March 2024.
Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation
HQ: Japan
Employee Count: 1K-5K
Year Founded: 2014
Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation is a key entity formed with investments from the Japanese government, Osaka City, Kobe City, and private financial institutions. It focuses on bolstering the global competitiveness of Osaka Port and Kobe Port through the integration of container and ferry terminal management. The corporation drives initiatives for standardising container terminals and expanding feeder networks across Western Japan and East Asia ports, aiming to strengthen regional maritime connectivity and logistics efficiency.
Notable for:
- Launching a project to showcase the conversion of a diesel-powered rubber-tired gantry (RTG) to a hydrogen-fuelled one. The project aims to demonstrate decarbonisation of advanced cargo handling machinery.
- Collaborating with Osaka Gas to introduce a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business, featuring an LNG bunkering vessel with a 1,500-ton capacity. It is set to operate by 2026.
- Signing an MoU with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) for the Port Island Phase 2 Development Project at the Port of Kobe and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line). After the completion of the expansion and improvement work, KICT will be the largest terminal in western Japan, handling about 40% of international container cargo at the Port of Kobe.
Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Centre
HQ: Denmark
Employee Count: 51-250
Year Founded: 2020
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping is a not-for-profit research and development centre dedicated to catalysing decarbonisation in the shipping sector. Along with its partners, the centre is facilitating the development and implementation of new technologies, helping to build confidence in new concepts and mature viable strategic ways to drive the required systemic and regulatory change.
Notable for:
- Receiving an AiP from ABS along with Seaspan Corporation for a Foreship-designed 3,500 TEU ammonia-fueled container vessel. The project marks an important step on the road to the wider adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel by the industry.
- Partnering with Sea/ to take advantage of Sea’s data tools to aid its development of green corridors. Through the partnership, Sea/ will give the centre access to data on topics such as activity across ports and vessel deployment to support its aims of driving sustainable decarbonisation in the industry.
- Expanding its partnership platform with four new academic partners: the University of Michigan, Maritime Research Alliance, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and World Maritime University, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in maritime research.
MPA Singapore
HQ: Singapore
Employee Count: 251-1000
Year Founded: 1996
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) drives Singapore’s evolution as a global hub port and international maritime centre. Serving as port authority, regulator, planner, and IMC champion. MPA collaborates with industry and agencies to ensure port safety, security, and environmental protection. While fostering growth, expanding maritime services, and promoting R&D and workforce development.
Notable for:
- Pioneering the world’s first digital bunkering initiative with an electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDN) system. Since January 2023, over 100 trials with 20+ industry participants have been completed.
- Facilitating the world’s first trial of ammonia as marine fuel in a dual-fuelled vessel at the Port of Singapore. Vopak supplied 3 tonnes of liquid ammonia for the Fortescue Green Pioneer.
- Announcing the launch of Singapore’s first fully electric cargo vessel, the 18.5m Hydromover, in November 2023.
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Port of Amsterdam
HQ: Netherlands
Employee Count: 201-500
Year Founded: 1804
The Port of Amsterdam aims to transform the port into a dynamic international hub. This involves integrating port operations, industry, and the circular economy to manage global cargo flows, regional recycling, local energy production, manufacturing, logistics, and corporate financial services. The port’s core responsibilities include developing the port region as a business magnet, maintaining and improving infrastructure, and ensuring safe and environmentally friendly maritime traffic management in the North Sea Canal Area.
Notable for:
- Partnering with the Ports of Bilbao and Duisport to establish an intra-European corridor for renewable hydrogen. This corridor will facilitate the export of Basque-produced hydrogen derivatives to Amsterdam for local consumption.
- Granting FincoEnergies a permit to supply bio-methanol, marking a significant step towards sustainable maritime fuel solutions with a certified CO2 reduction of 92.4%.
- Teaming up with international partners to reach two agreements on green hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges
HQ: Belgium
Employee Count: 1K-5K
Year Founded: 1997
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is one of the world’s largest and historic ports. They oversee and maintain crucial operations in a range of area’s including dock, bridge, lock, quay wall, and land management, ensuring safe shipping traffic. The port provides essential services such as tugboats, cranes, and dredging while prioritising sustainable development, transition, and resilience to shape its future.
Notable for:
- Implementing a 120 sq km digital radar and camera network for advanced maritime traffic management.
- Launching its “Methatug,” a methanol dual fuel retrofit of an existing tugboat financed by the EU Horizon programme. The 30-metre-long tugboat has a traction force of 50 tons and can store 12,000 litres of methanol, enough for two weeks of tug work.
- Launching the world’s first Hydrogen powered tugboat known as the Hydrotug. It is the first vessel that uses the BeHydro V12 dual fuel medium speed engines – each providing 2 megawatts – with the latest EU Stage V emissions aftertreatment. With these engines, the vessel uses clean fuels, resulting in an overall reduction of 65% of traditional fuel consumption and associated emissions in the tugboat’s overall cycle.
Port of Long Beach
HQ: United States
Employee Count: 201-500
Year Founded: 1911
he Port of Long Beach handles over US $180 billion in annual trade and moves more than 7.5 million container units, making it the second-busiest US seaport. It facilitates the import and export of a wide range of goods, including clothing, electronics, petroleum, automobiles, and steel, while championing environmental stewardship.
Notable for:
- Collaborating with MPA Singapore and the Port of Los Angeles to launch a partnership strategy for a green and digital shipping corridor, supported by a study to assess trade flows and zero-emission fuel needs.
- Announcing plans to host a new heavy-duty truck charging depot, providing high-speed charging for hundreds of drayage trucks daily to support California’s transition to a zero-emission fleet.
- Unveiling 33 zero-emissions battery-electric yard tractors at an SSA Terminals LLC-operated container terminal. These replace traditional petrol and diesel models in the largest deployment of its kind on the West Coast.
Port of Los Angeles
HQ: United States
Employee Count: 251-1000
Year Founded: 1907
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier gateway for international commerce. The port spans 7,500 acres and 43 miles of waterfront. The port features various terminals and handles billions in cargo annually. It has been the nation’s top port by container throughput since 2000.
Notable for:
- Commencing operations of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell zero-emission RTG crane, the “MITSUI-Paceco H2-ZE Transtainer,” which was delivered by PACECO.
- Signing an MoU with the Port of Guangzhou, China, to enhance collaboration in digital supply chain infrastructure and establish a Trans-Pacific Green Shipping Corridor.
- Collaborating with Kalmar to deliver two new electric straddle carriers and retrofitting two hybrids, offering 45–50 minutes of battery operation and rapid 5–6 minute charging.
Port of Oakland
HQ: United States
Employee Count: 501-1000
Year Founded: 1927
The Port of Oakland is the primary ocean gateway for international containerised cargo shipments in Northern California. Spanning 1,300 acres, it serves a local market of over 14.5 million consumers and connects to 34 million people within a seven-hour drive. With 50% of the US population accessible by rail, the port features three container terminals and two intermodal rail facilities along its waterfront. Virtually all shipping channels and 90% of berths are dredged to -50 feet, accommodating vessels up to 18,000 TEU capacity.
Notable for:
- Implementing Parsons Corporation’s Freight Intelligent Transportation System to enhance operational efficiency and safety measures.
- Receiving a $42 million grant from CTC for the Green Power Microgrid Project will help it advance towards a zero-emissions goal with enhanced green electricity capacity.
- The port also announced plans to enhance its energy portfolio with a $13.5 million geothermal purchase over 12 years, aiming for a 10% renewable energy share to power port sustainably.
Port of Rotterdam
HQ: Netherlands
Employee Count: 1K-5K
Year Founded: 1932
The Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to strengthen its position as Europe’s largest seaport and a top-tier industrial complex. Tasked with sustainable development and efficient operations, it offers easy accessibility for ships and supports 385,000 jobs nationwide.
Notable for:
- Partnering with Kramer Group, StreetDrone, and Terberg to deploy six autonomous yard trucks, which will enhance operational efficiency across key terminals starting in late 2023.
- Expanding its CO2 transport and storage project through Porthos, a joint venture of EBN, Gasunie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The project aims to store up to 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2026.
- The launch of the first Netherlands drone Vertiport at Vertiport Galileo in Merwehaven, advancing towards a network of Vertiports in the port area to support the future beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
Port of Valencia
HQ: Spain
Employee Count: 201-500
Year Founded: 1900
The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), operating under the brand Valenciaport, manages three state-owned ports along an 80 km stretch of Spain’s Eastern Mediterranean coast. Valenciaport is ranked as Spain’s leading Mediterranean port in commercial traffic, notably containerised cargo. Valenciaport serves as a pivotal gateway for goods within the Iberian Peninsula and plays a crucial role in promoting the Valencia Region internationally.
Notable for:
- Hosting Spain’s first marine floating solar energy prototype by PV NEXUS, featuring IoT-enabled remote monitoring.
- Initiating a €12.4 million tender for an electrical connection project at Transversal Costa-MSC quay, marking Valenciaport’s first Onshore Power Supply.
- Receiving its first hydrogen-powered ReachStacker as part of the European H2PORTS project, joining a tractor unit and mobile hydrogen supply station for operational testing until December 2024.
UK Department for Transport (DfT)
HQ: United Kingdom
Employee Count: 10K-50K
Year Founded: 1919
The Department for Transport (DfT) oversees policy, guidance, and funding allocation to English local authorities. It aims to enhance road networks, facilitate passenger and freight travel improvements, and develop significant transport initiatives across the country.
Notable for:
- Selecting Cummins for a £4.4M methanol vessel retrofit project under the ZEVI competition. The project aims to decarbonise maritime operations with a UK-designed methanol conversion kit for high-horsepower marine engines.
- Allocating $43 million for the fourth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), advancing maritime decarbonisation efforts under the UK SHORE initiative. Total funding has reached $165 million since 2021.
- Providing $1.5 million UK funding to Anemoi Marine Technologies to develop and demonstrate a rotor sail with Victoria Steamship and Lloyd’s Register under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.
UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO)
HQ: United Kingdom
Employee Count: 501-1000
Year Founded: 1795
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) collaborates with various partners to source, process, and distribute marine geospatial data, ensuring safer, more secure, and sustainable ocean use. The organisation’s ADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions are globally recognised and used on over 90% of international trading ships. With a portfolio of over 15,800 Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), 3,500 Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs), and numerous publications, UKHO supports mariners with essential navigational information.
Notable for:
- Signing an MoU with the Port of London Authority and Peel Ports Group to enhance collaboration in the port sector, improve data sharing, and support the development of next-generation navigational services.
- Partnering with marine data provider XOCEAN in January 2024. XOCEAN deployed five of its uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) off the Isles of Scilly to collect bathymetric data on behalf of the UKHO. The USVs scanned the seabed to help identify features from depth and habitats to ridges, boulders and shipwrecks. The collaboration marks UKHO’s first external partnership for seabed mapping.
- Receiving and processing 53TB of bathymetric survey data. Which is equivalent to streaming 900,000 hours of music. This was announced in the company’s 2023/2024 annual report.
