The maritime industry is undergoing a significant transformation, aiming for climate-neutral shipping by 2050. Shipowners and shipping companies face complex decisions to achieve decarbonization while balancing operational, economic, and environmental factors. A new digital tool, developed by ReFlow in collaboration with Danish Shipping and several Danish shipping companies, offers a practical solution to streamline these decisions.

This innovative tool, known as the Lifecycle Emissions Assessment Tool, enables data-driven decision-making for a sustainable transition. It provides a standardized model to evaluate a vessel’s full lifecycle emissions, from construction to operation and eventual decommissioning. Shipowners can use it to analyze various scenarios, including alternative fuel options, technological upgrades, and energy-efficiency measures.

Rasmus Elsborg-Jensen, CEO of ReFlow, emphasizes the tool’s goal: “A data-driven green transition.” By offering insights into upstream emissions from vessel production, the tool helps shipowners make informed choices, particularly when exploring new fuel types where production emissions play a critical role. Cecilie Damgaard Jensen, Decarbonization Analyst at DFDS, highlights its potential: “The tool offers a straightforward way to estimate emissions from vessel production, which is especially valuable when assessing alternative fuels.”

The development process began in 2023, supported by the Danish Maritime Fund. Danish Shipping facilitated the project, ensuring the tool is practical and effective for its members. Nina Porst, Executive Director of Climate, Environment, and Security at Danish Shipping, explains: “Our priority was to create a tool that considers the entire lifecycle of a vessel and is user-friendly, helping our members manage the decarbonization process efficiently.”

The Lifecycle Emissions Assessment Tool was developed with input from leading Danish shipping companies, including A.P. Moller – Maersk, Navigator Gas, DFDS, Uni-Tankers, Torm, Cadeler, Svitzer, and ZITON. ReFlow served as the technical lead, building the digital model to ensure accuracy and usability.

For seafarers and maritime professionals, this tool represents a step toward a more sustainable industry. It equips shipowners with the data needed to make environmentally responsible decisions, aligning with global climate goals. By integrating lifecycle emissions analysis into decision-making, the tool supports the maritime sector’s journey toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

Resource: Hellenic Shipping News, 2025.