This United Nations STI Forum Side Event focused on sustainable maritime and addressed technology’s role and impact in delivering innovative approaches and solutions to address climate change, mitigate its impacts, and support the UN’s sustainable development goals, in particular SDG13 (Climate Action) and SDG17 (Global Partnerships).
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, providing critical resources, biodiversity, and economic opportunities. The maritime industry is the cornerstone of global trade, but it is also a significant contributor to ocean pollution that impacts maritime ecosystems and coastal communities.
While the maritime industry is critical in global trade and economic development, it faces significant environmental challenges, including carbon emissions, ocean pollution that impacts maritime ecosystems and coastal communities, and resource depletion.
Electrification of ports and vessels offers a transformative opportunity to enhance efficiency and drive sustainable economic growth. The industry can accelerate its transition toward a cleaner ocean and a more sustainable future by adopting shore power, electric and hybrid vessels, and renewable energy infrastructure.
Electrification is no longer a distant goal but a genuine pathway to a cleaner maritime industry. With technical standards driving advancements in battery storage, renewable energy, and smart port technologies, the transition toward energy-efficient maritime operations and a cleaner ocean is gaining momentum.
This workshop explored the potential of electrification in decarbonizing maritime operations, looking at key technologies and actionable strategies for successfully implementing maritime electronification while ensuring interoperability, safety, and economic sustainability.
View Delivering the Future: Sustainable Maritime On-Demand
View the Compilation of the Side Event Reports held in relation with UN STI 2025
Speakers
Rudi Schubert
Director, New Initiatives, Industry Connections Program and Lead for IEEE SA Energy Practice
IEEE Standards Association
John Prousalidis
Professor
School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Alex Papalexopoulos
CEO & Chairman of the Board
World Energy Consortium – WEC
Thomas Høven
Senior Electrical Lead Engineer
Siemens Energy
Agenda
- Karen MulberryWelcome
- Rudi SchubertOpening Remarks and Speaker Introduction
- John ProusalidisDelivering the Future: Clean Oceans
and Electrification of Ports and Vessels - Thomas HøvenStandardization of Utility Connections in Port:
Current Status and the Way Forward - Alex PapalexopoulosCold Ironing for the Energy Transition
and Organized Energy Markets - Moderator: Rudi SchubertSpeaker Panel Discussion and Q&A
- Rudi SchubertSummary and Closing Remarks
Interested in Learning More About the Future of Sustainable Maritime?
Fill out the form to receive a complimentary recording of this event.