Flagship Founders has launched its third start-up, zero44, which will help shipping companies, ship managers and charterers monitor and control their fleets’ CO2 emissions.
Stringent new rules on emissions from 2023 will see carbon reduction become a key issue within the industry. However, global emissions are still rising instead of falling. Innovative, more efficient technologies and sustainable fuels are also not ready for immediate use. From next year, the IMO is imposing stricter climate regulations and there are also plans to expand the European Emission Trading System (ETS) to the maritime industry – a move set to cost an extra EUR1 million per ship per annum on average, said zero44.
The company can provide customised digital solutions to provide shipping companies with comprehensive, daily carbon reporting and offering concrete advice on future strategies.
zero44 is led my managing directors and co-founders Friederike Hesse and Nils Obermann. In its current product development stage, the company is expanding the team and building customer relations. Software for the wider market is due to be launched later this year.
“The shipping industry urgently needs solutions to become more sustainable – and not over the coming years or decades, but now,” said Hesse. “Climate change waits for no one. We need to find creative and long-term carbon reduction approaches we can rely on immediately, regardless of a ship’s classification, age or its technology. A lack of any comprehensive, satisfactory solutions is what prompted us to found zero44 in the first place. We want to help operators make these tough decisions and work with them to shape a more sustainable, resource-friendly global shipping industry. This is the only way to make the sector fit for the future.”
