A new research centre dedicated to advancing sustainable shipping has been launched by Scotland’s University of Strathclyde in partnership with Germany’s Oldendorff Carriers.

The Oldendorff Research Centre for Sustainable Shipping will drive actionable research to advance the decarbonisation of maritime operations, aligning global climate targets with operational realities at sea.

The centre will address evidence gaps critical to an effective industry transition, focusing on technological, operational, and human factors, including the impacts of decarbonisation measures on crew.

Key research areas will also encompass the design of next-generation, energy-efficient vessels, the integration of alternative fuel systems, and the application of AI-driven decision-support systems.

Dr Torsten Barenthin, Oldendorff’s director of research and development, commented: “Decarbonising the maritime sector is the greatest operational challenge the industry faces and will continue to face in the years ahead. Addressing it requires not only collaboration, but also a willingness to engage with the difficult issues that remain unexamined in much of the current discourse. The centre is designed to generate insights that extend beyond Oldendorff and deliver measurable impact across the global fleet.”

As part of the centre activities, a scientific research paper on the round-trip efficiency of various e-fuels is being prepared.

The Oldendorff Research Centre for Sustainable Shipping is the latest in a number of high-profile maritime decarbonisation research centres that also include Singapore’s Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and the Copenhagen-based Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.