Maritime industry needs urgent and coordinated investment for net-zero goal

Hong Kong is seen to have a major role in this transition.

The maritime industry needs urgent and coordinated investment to further boost its transition to net-zero emissions.

"If we wait for perfect clarity, we will lose ground," said Angad Banga, COO of The Caravel Group, urging shipowners, regulators, and financiers to act decisively in the wake of the IMO’s recent postponement of its Net-Zero Framework.

Hong Kong will have a vital role to play, with it being the gateway between China and the global market, being an international maritime hub and financial powerhouse to fund decarbonisation as well as explore innovative financial tools.

Hong Kong shipowners control nearly 10% of the global merchant fleet by deadweight tonnage, with four of the world’s top 10 ship management companies headquartered in the city. It also ranks third globally in the Global Financial Centres Index, just narrowly behind London and New York, and facilitates over 70% of global offshore RMB payments.

In 2025 alone, 80 companies went public with a pipeline of 300, whilst companies raised nearly $60b through IPOs, placements, convertibles, and exchangeable bond offerings.

“Shipping is the backbone of global trade, and decarbonisation is creating new markets for fuels, technologies, and services — all of which require capital,” Banga said. Hong Kong’s deep capital markets, record IPO activity, and strong green finance ecosystem make it uniquely placed to fund this transition.