Accelerating decarbonization in the shipbuilding industry can strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and resilience amid the global shift toward sustainability, according to Laurent Daniel, head of the Shipbuilding Unit of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Daniel said eco-friendly shipbuilding is gaining traction worldwide, noting that 25 percent of vessel deliveries by 2026 will be capable of using alternative fuels, though most of this progress remains concentrated in foreign-owned shipyards.

“(There are) long-term opportunities in offshore wind for shipbuilding. A projected offshore wind capacity of up to 21 GW is expected by 2040,” Daniel said during the Philippine Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Seminar hosted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority on 12–13 November at the Manila Hotel.

He added that ports are beginning to promote sustainability through green infrastructure projects, environmental programs, and incentives. Maritime decarbonization is also moving forward through international commitments and national innovation plans, including the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2019–2028 and various pilot programs.

To boost competitiveness, Daniel emphasized the need to accelerate digitalization across the shipbuilding and ship repair sector, strengthen safety standards within shipyards and the domestic fleet, and improve data collection to support evidence-based policymaking.

“A big trend that is really shaping the future of shipbuilding is digitalization. And in the Philippines, there are many initiatives to seize these opportunities. So the Philippine government is advancing digitalization to modernize shipbuilding and maritime services,” he said.

Daniel cited efforts such as the digitalization of fleets and shipping through the partnership between the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Department of Science and Technology’s PCIEERD, as well as the implementation of the 2023–2028 Maritime Industry Development Plan.

He also highlighted ongoing projects such as MARINA’s Blockchain-Enabled Automated Certification System (MARINA BEST), which aims to digitize and streamline maritime services, and the Philippine Ports Authority’s 2024 digitalization blueprint. However, he stressed that the country’s maritime data systems still need significant upgrading.