This report provides an overview of how financial institutions are developing decarbonization targets for maritime shipping, a hard-to-abate sector that underpins global trade.

Drawing on the Poseidon Principles and evolving net-zero frameworks, the report sets out key methodological choices for banks, including the use of carbon intensity metrics aligned with IMO trajectories, definitions of emissions scope, and approaches to portfolio coverage and data quality. It reflects current industry practice, where most banks rely on vessel-level data and intensity-based targets to assess alignment, while navigating data gaps and methodological divergence.

The report also highlights key transition levers, such as fleet renewal, operational efficiency measures, and the adoption of alternative fuels like ammonia and methanol. It is intended to support banks in refining practical, decision-useful transition strategies for supporting their clients’ transition in the shipping sector.