The Albanese Government has released the Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan (MERNAP), outlining practical actions government and industry can take to continue decarbonisation of the maritime sector.
Australia’s maritime sector already employs nearly 29,000 people and contributes $3.8 billion to our economy annually. The MERNAP highlights the new maritime jobs, industry and opportunities which can be harnessed in the long term to grow the sector, if we prioritise lowering our nation’s emissions in the short term.
Stretching across ports, shipping, energy, domestic commercial vessels and skills and training, the MERNAP identifies key priority actions to support decarbonisation while recognising Australian shipping must remain competitive and prosperous in the international market.
Priorities include supporting investment in port infrastructure and operations that accelerate decarbonisation, reducing regulatory burden for emerging maritime technology, upskilling our maritime workforce and ongoing collaboration with our international partners at the cutting edge of maritime decarbonisation.
The MERNAP complements existing Australian Government incentives and policies including the $1.1 billion Cleaner Fuels Program, the Green Fuel Bunkering Strategy, the $30 million Australia-Singapore Low-Emissions Technologies Initiative for Maritime and Port Operations, the $55 million Transport Resilience And Capacity Kickstart program and the $13.8 million Maritime Skills and Training Initiative.
It also complements our $100 million investment in a new Clean Energy Precinct at the Port of Newcastle, which is expected to facilitate production, storage, distribution and export of clean-energy products including hydrogen and ammonia, and is forecast to support roughly 5,800 jobs during construction.
The MERNAP follows an extensive and robust consultation process, which saw the Government work closely with the maritime sector, energy stakeholders and industry experts.
You can read the Australian Government’s Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan at: https://infrastructure.gov.au/mernap
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“The recent conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated to us how critical it is to build resilience and sustainability within our maritime industry.
“In a nation where our maritime sector is responsible for 99 per cent of our international trade, the MERNAP is a vital piece of our journey toward a sustainable future.
“It also presents an unparalleled opportunity to be a low and zero-carbon energy exporter of choice internationally, while creating new jobs and industry within the sustainable maritime sector locally.”
