MEPC 83: Policy Must Catch Up with Progress, Says NatPower Marine CEO
[London, UK, 7 April 2025 ]— As the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee prepares to meet in London from 7 to 11 April, NatPower Marine is urging regulators to keep pace with what is already happening across the maritime sector. While global frameworks are still under negotiation, industry leaders are not standing still.
Stefano D.M. Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower Marine, says
“The time for theory has passed. At NatPower Marine, we’re focused on what’s already working and ready to scale. Electrification is no longer something we’re waiting for — it’s happening right now and it’s already more cost-effective than keeping with the status quo.”
“MEPC 83 is a significant opportunity for the IMO, but the reality is that the industry is already moving ahead.”
NatPower Marine is developing a privately funded global network of 120 Green Shipping Corridors, providing port-to-port e-charging for cold ironing and electric propulsion. These systems are being installed and operated at berth, at anchor and at sea in collaboration with ports, shipping lines and technology partners. But we’re not just building new systems. We’re also stepping in to manage and optimise underused infrastructure. Too many port electrification projects have stalled due to a lack of operational know-how. We will bring the investment, technology and management expertise to ensure the system works and continues to work.
Sommadossi adds,
“Ports, cities, passengers and cargo owners are all demanding cleaner operations. In some port cities, ships contribute up to 35 per cent of urban air pollution.”
“Our corridors give ship operators a clear, practical way to reduce those emissions without compromising performance or profitability.”
NatPower Marine is working directly with ports and shipping lines to ensure that shore power infrastructure is more than just hardware. The focus is on making sure these installations are integrated properly and run efficiently, learning from the earlier public sector projects, where often the infrastructure was installed but never activated or fully utilised.
Sommadossi explains,
“We don’t just build infrastructure.”
“We run it, optimise it and make sure it delivers real commercial value. This isn’t legacy electricity; it’s electric fuel. This is new and it needs to be managed by people who understand its complexity and potential.”
Martin Olverson, Business Development Director at NatPower Marine, adds:
“We’re delivering both the physical network and the digital tools that support it. That includes smart charging infrastructure on the quayside and digital twin modelling that allows shipowners to track energy use, manage cost and speed up their transition.”
As policymakers continue to debate carbon pricing, compliance thresholds and fuel standards, NatPower Marine says the regulatory conversation must now align with the progress already being delivered by the industry.
Sommadossi says,
“Electrification isn’t just the right move; it’s a competitive edge.”
“Shore power and electric propulsion aren’t future technologies. They’re available now and should be scaling across ports and shipping lines worldwide. Early adopters are already seeing gains in cost, reputation and operational resilience. We’re building it. Others are, too. The investment is real, the market is moving, and now we need policy to catch up and help us scale faster.”
For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
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About NatPower Marine
NatPower Marine, part of the NatPower Group is developing the largest independent network of ship charging facilities to provide clean electricity for propulsion and cold ironing as part of a fully integrated Smart Energy Transition-as-a-Service solution to the global maritime sector.
The company develops the essential end-to-end infrastructure required for the decarbonisation of global supply chain routes, providing shore power to support the electrification of ships for propulsion and cold ironing at berth, at anchor, and offshore.
The NatPower Group is a global energy transition developer with approximately 30 GW of natural power projects, with a presence in the UK, USA, Italy, and Kazakhstan, among others. The company has an ambitious expansion plan to become the largest and fastest growing global energy transition enabler. NatPower H, a subsidiary of NatPower Group, is currently building the world’s first green hydrogen refuelling station infrastructure for pleasure yachting.
About NatPower UK
NatPower UK is a sister company to NatPower Marine. NatPower UK has one of the largest clean energy development portfolios in the UK and will bring over 60 GWh of battery storage online in the UK by 2040, integrating large scale smart clean energy generation and distribution with large scale intermittent clean energy demand.
