Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said that decarbonisation and the broader green maritime agenda have become strategic business imperatives capable of delivering significant competitive advantages to players in the global shipping industry.
Peterside made the assertion on Monday while delivering the keynote address at a high-level webinar organised by Naturehedge in collaboration with the West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI), Gregory University, SSA Hub, and the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (SEPAN).
Speaking on the theme, “Green Maritime: Strategy and Operations Beyond Optics,” the maritime regulation and compliance expert said environmental sustainability has evolved beyond regulatory compliance to become a key driver of operational efficiency, profitability and long-term business resilience.
According to him, adopting green maritime practices directly influences operating costs, access to investment capital, profitability and an organisation’s licence to operate in an increasingly climate-conscious global economy.
“Green maritime is about environmentally sustainable practices, technologies and policies that reduce impact on the environment,” Peterside said.
He stressed that the future of the maritime industry belongs to organisations that successfully integrate decarbonisation, digitalisation, innovation and operational excellence into their business models.
Rather than viewing sustainability as a branding exercise, Peterside urged industry stakeholders to embed green practices into everyday operations to improve competitiveness and build resilience against emerging global regulatory requirements.
He noted that with stricter International Maritime Organisation (IMO) carbon-intensity regulations taking effect in 2026, alongside the expansion of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to the shipping sector, operators must move beyond compliance to embrace innovation.
The webinar outlined practical strategies for achieving greener maritime operations, including voyage optimisation, just-in-time port arrivals, the adoption of alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia and liquefied natural gas (LNG), deployment of digital technologies, and safety-focused workforce training.
READ ALSO:Â Dakuku Peterside Returns To Nigeria’s Maritime Stage At WISTA Africa Conference
The virtual event attracted shipowners, shipping operators, port authorities, regulators, financiers and energy sector stakeholders from across the maritime industry.
Participants agreed that while regulatory compliance remains essential, sustainable competitive advantage will come from integrating environmental sustainability into operational processes, data management and financing models.
Also speaking at the event, President of the Governing Council of the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Allied Association (REEEAA) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SEPAN, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, announced that the webinar would serve as a precursor to a major pan-regional strategic workshop scheduled to hold in Accra, Ghana.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Damen Shipyards South Africa, Madam Hermione Manuel, highlighted the growing importance of green maritime practices, describing sustainability and regulatory compliance as key drivers of competitiveness.
She showcased hybrid vessel initiatives being implemented at the shipyard as practical examples of innovation aimed at improving operational efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
Organisers confirmed that the webinar series would continue periodically ahead of the Accra workshop as part of efforts to strengthen strategic capacity and operational expertise in Africa’s maritime decarbonisation agenda.