At Bibby Marine, we’ve always believed in leading by doing. That’s why we’re investing in the world’s first zero-emission Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (eCSOV). But one vessel isn’t enough. A sustainable energy future will only be possible if we move beyond individual action and toward real, joined-up industry progress.
Our open letter, issued together with our partners Kongsberg Maritime and Stillstrom, sets a collective challenge and calls for urgent, coordinated action to decarbonise offshore operations. The technology to achieve this exists today, the benefits to businesses can be significant, the moment to act is now.
We’re proud to have played a part in bringing this message to the wider industry – and we invite you to read it in full below:
An open letter
Are you just looking or acting?
Mission possible? If the mission is to realise a net zero emissions offshore wind sector, then yes, it is possible… but only if we talk less and act more.
Today, Bibby Marine, Kongsberg Maritime, and Stillstrom are asking you to act; to join a mission to secure a net zero-emission future. We are calling on our colleagues across the industry to respond to pressures on the cost of wind farm construction with a commitment to the adoption and deployment of technologies that will wipe out our carbon footprint. These technologies exist today and offer commercial advantages over conventionally fuelled vessels – let’s celebrate them, nurture them, and act to deploy them; together.
Our sector has an opportunity to deliver more projects without producing more emissions. Using available technology, we can collaborate to reduce costs while at the same time reducing our impact on the climate. As the cost of projects rise, we need to work together to prove this can be done, at scale, anywhere.
Offshore wind provides a significant boost to global efforts to combat climate change; the carbon footprint of offshore wind power generation is ten times lower than fossil-generated electricity on a per MWh basis. However, while in Europe the sector remains a long way from peaking, global opportunities are expanding rapidly, and this global expansion means more carbon from our operations.
If we truly want to be a net zero emissions sector, we need to work harder to eliminate our sources of carbon emissions. We need to stop looking on and start acting to deploy the technologies we have that can cut carbon from our sector today and for the future.
Vessel emissions during construction, installation, and operations represent a significant problem for the sector. Working with our partners – developers, owners, EPCIs, and O&M providers – we are laying the keel of a vessel and establishing the network of infrastructure that will take us to net-zero infield emissions.
Infield charging can be delivered today to extend the capacity of eCSOVs and eSOVs supporting operations. This lowers operating costs, improves the working environment, and reduces emissions by as much as a fifth. But to encourage investment in the necessary infrastructure, OEMs need demand signals. Across our industry’s sub-sectors, we have come together to provide that demand signal and create the momentum for lower construction and development costs that will unlock the offshore wind pipeline and continue to drive the energy transition.
Installed capacity of global offshore wind is expected to more than double to 250GW in the next five years and then double again by 2040. If we want to avoid making emissions worse when we are trying to make things better, we need a coalition ready to develop the technology that will eliminate emissions from our sector.
As offshore wind grows, we need to shrink our carbon emissions. Are you just looking or acting? Join our e-mission zero and be someone that moves the dial forward, today.
What comes next?
Looking at the letter is just the beginning. Real progress starts with decisions: to prioritise cleaner technologies and to support zero emissions in the supply chain and operations, today and in the future.
Our letter is a challenge and it’s an invitation. The next generation of offshore wind farms can’t just be bigger – they have to be better. More collaborative. More sustainable. Lower cost, lower emissions.
So, if you’re reading this and asking, “What’s my role?” – that’s exactly the right question.
And we’d love to talk about the answer.
Download the official open letter, co-signed by Bibby Marine, Kongsberg Maritime, and Stillstrom – here
