Kenya Eyes Leadership Role in Green Shipping as Global Maritime Industry Goes Low-Carbon

As the global maritime industry accelerates efforts to cut carbon emissions, Kenya is positioning itself to become a regional hub for green shipping, renewable maritime fuels and sustainable port infrastructure.

The country’s ambitions took centre stage during a World Bank-hosted discussion on unlocking maritime transport investments for the Blue Economy at the 11th Our Ocean Conference, where policymakers, industry leaders and development partners explored how Africa can benefit from the global shift toward cleaner shipping.

Maritime transport accounts for more than 80 percent of global trade and remains critical to economic growth, food security and regional integration. As the industry moves toward net-zero emissions, countries that can support cleaner shipping operations are expected to attract significant investment and create new economic opportunities.

Speaking during the forum, Michael Mbaru, Deputy Director for Marine Environment Protection at the Kenya Maritime Authority and Kenya’s Special Envoy for Green Shipping and Shipping Decarbonization, said Kenya is developing a National Action Plan designed to reduce emissions from domestic and international shipping while positioning the country as a regional leader in maritime sustainability.

“We are structuring it as a platform for projects, regional leadership and an investment-oriented National Action Plan,” said Mbaru.

The strategy seeks to modernize Kenya’s domestic fleet through improved energy efficiency, vessel retrofitting and adoption of alternative fuels and emerging technologies. It also aims to transform the ports of Mombasa and Lamu into regional bunkering hubs for renewable and low-carbon marine fuels.

Kenya has already begun engaging shipping companies, energy producers, financial institutions and government agencies to explore the development of green shipping corridors that could accelerate the deployment of cleaner maritime transport solutions across the region.

The country’s plans align with growing international efforts to decarbonize shipping, a sector responsible for roughly three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Industry stakeholders are increasingly investing in alternative fuels such as green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol as viable pathways to reducing emissions.

Experts say Kenya’s strong renewable energy profile could provide a significant competitive advantage.

Anna Larsson, Vice President for Communications at the World Shipping Council, noted that Kenya’s energy mix places the country in a favourable position to participate in the emerging renewable maritime fuels market.

“Kenya has 92 percent renewable energy, which is like the perfect condition for starting to invest in renewable maritime fuels,” she said.

According to Larsson, countries capable of producing and supplying green fuels stand to attract new shipping traffic, investment and employment opportunities, similar to the role traditional bunkering hubs have played in global trade for decades.

The shipping industry is already investing heavily in the transition. Industry figures indicate that nearly 80 percent of newly ordered container ships and vehicle carriers are designed to operate on alternative fuels, reflecting growing confidence in the sector’s low-carbon future.

Despite the momentum, financing remains a major challenge.

Participants noted that while governments and private developers are preparing projects linked to renewable fuels and green shipping infrastructure, uncertainty over future demand continues to slow large-scale investments.

“The producers are ready to supply these fuels, but where are the off-takers? Where is the demand?” Mbaru posed.

Industry leaders called for stronger policy incentives and clearer international regulations to create the market certainty needed to unlock investments in fuel production, port infrastructure and next-generation vessels.

Mark Major, Senior Strategy Director at the Climate Centre of the CUNA Foundation, said maritime transport should be viewed as a driver of broader economic development rather than simply a transport sector issue.

“We actually see that these systems are like the levers for the development and sustainable development of different regions,” he said.

According to Major, investments in green maritime infrastructure can deliver multiple benefits, including job creation, lower transport costs, cleaner air, enhanced trade competitiveness and stronger integration into global supply chains.

The World Bank’s ProBlue programme is also supporting countries in identifying bankable opportunities within the emerging green shipping economy.

Christina Chan, Program Manager for Shipping at ProBlue, emphasized that policy frameworks and technical support are essential to turning investment concepts into viable projects.

“To make a really bankable investment, it actually needs to be implementation-ready,” she said.

For Kenya, the transition is expected to create new opportunities for seafarers and maritime professionals as ships adopt alternative fuels and advanced technologies. Preparing the workforce for these changes forms a key pillar of the country’s National Action Plan.

As global shipping charts a course toward net-zero emissions, Kenya is seeking to leverage its renewable energy resources, strategic location and port infrastructure to become a leading player in Africa’s emerging green maritime economy.

The challenge now is converting ambition into action and ensuring that the country’s ports, energy systems and maritime workforce are ready to seize the opportunities presented by a cleaner and more sustainable shipping industry.