IMO has launched Blue Solutions, a new project intended to support maritime decarbonization in Southeast Asia.
The announcement was made at the 51st ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group (MTWG) Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
IMO will implement the project in collaboration with Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and six partner countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.
A key feature of the project is its focus on ports, and their potential role in maritime decarbonization, helping countries assess and demonstrate solutions such as port and vessel electrification, cleaner technologies and operational improvements. The project will also support the development of greenhouse gas emission baselines and national action plans, and strengthen capacity-building, partnerships and knowledge-sharing across the region.
The project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Government of Germany, with an initially approved budget of EUR 5.9 million for Phase 1, and is expected to run until January 2031.
The International Climate Initiative (IKI) said: "The transition to low-carbon shipping presents an important opportunity for Southeast Asia to strengthen its maritime competitiveness while contributing to global climate goals. Through Blue Solutions, we are pleased to support practical, country-driven action that can demonstrate scalable solutions and deliver tangible environmental and economic benefits across the region."
Welcoming the initiative, Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director of PEMSEA highlighted the importance of linking ports with wider transport and coastal development strategies: "Ports are critical nodes connecting maritime transport, energy systems, industry and surrounding communities. By combining IMO's expertise in maritime decarbonization with PEMSEA's experience in integrated coastal management, including green port development, Blue Solutions provides an opportunity to support practical, locally driven solutions that deliver benefits both within ports and across the wider transport system."
The project aims to support ports in moving from ambition to implementation, and to help create conditions for innovation, investment and the deployment of practical low-emission solutions across Southeast Asia.
Welcoming the launch of Blue Solutions, Jose Matheickal, Director of IMO's Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division, said: "Maritime decarbonization requires strong partnerships. Through Blue Solutions, we are bringing together governments, ports, industry and development partners to identify practical solutions, build local capacity and create pathways for implementation. By working together, we can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable maritime future."
Blue Solutions will be implemented under IMO's wider GreenVoyage2050 Programme, drawing on its technical expertise, partnerships and knowledge-sharing networks while complementing ongoing efforts to accelerate maritime decarbonization in developing countries.
About the IMO Blue Solutions Project
The IMO Blue Solutions Project is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Government of Germany. Within the Federal Government, the IKI is anchored in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). Selected individual projects are also the responsibility of the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
