Under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) met in April 2025 to determine new regulations governing environmental issues critical to the maritime industry. The final vote on the regulations will be held in mid-October 2025.
Key to the proposed MEPC83 regulations is a wide-ranging set of rules intended to reduce the greenhouse gases emitted by the industry. This includes decarbonization targets that will encourage ship owners to transition to low-carbon fuels (LCFs) starting in 2028 via revised fuel standards and significant financial incentives and penalties.
These regulations will transform the competitive landscape not just for shippers but for developers of LCFs and players looking to invest in them. In the slideshow that follows, we consider the impact of the MEPC83 regulations on the industry and provide guidance on what will be required to comply with—and potentially benefit from—the new regulations.
Charting the Course to the Future
The new MEPC83 regulations will have a profound impact on the global maritime industry. Competitive advantage will go to those who begin developing a cost-efficient strategy for both the short and the long term. All three players with a stake in the future of the industry—shipping companies, fuel developers, and investors—have critical decisions to make. And with the regulations expected to come into effect in less than three years, there’s no time to waste.
