HKUST is undertaking a funded research project on Green Transition Finance for Maritime Retrofitting, focusing on how to retrofit existing fleets to meet the International Maritime Organization’s 2030 targets. This workshop will examine the enabling conditions needed to incentivise small and medium-sized shipping companies (SMSCs)—which face greater constraints than larger firms—to adopt energy efficiency technologies (EETs) on in-use vessels.
The latter will be discussed in the preceding HKUST Shipping Decarbonisation Forum: Practical insights will be shared by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), which has developed a pay-as-you-save model and methods to quantify fuel savings from technologies such as wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS); Kongsberg, presenting case studies showing fuel savings of up to 48%; and China Merchants Industry (CMI), introducing the Vessel Technical Index (VTI) for performance measurement.
Research by the UCL Energy Institute highlights a key gap: while banks offer preferential financing to companies with strong climate performance, these benefits are rarely extended to individual vessels. This limits the uptake of low-carbon technologies at the asset level.
This invitation-only workshop complements the HKUST Shipping Decarbonisation Forum, bringing together shipowners, charterers, ship managers, financiers, leasing companies, and NGOs for deeper discussion on Maritime EETs. Active participation in open-floor discussions is expected.
Notes:
- This is an invitation-only event. Admission is free, with limited seating (60 places available).
- If you are unable to attend and would like to nominate a colleague (whether to take your place or join in addition) please feel free to contact us. We will do our best to accommodate requests, although we may need to limit the number of participants per organisation.
- A summary of the event will be shared online for wider access. Please note that the programme and event details may be updated as needed.
[Draft and subject to change]
| Time | Sessions | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Estimated budget and timeline to retrofit recommended EETs (30 mins) | ||
| 2:15 – 2:25 PM | Recommended EETs and sample implementation timelines for SMSCs | Daniel Song / BV |
| 2:25 – 2:45 PM | Open Floor Discussion: Examples: What are the types of EETs more suitable for SMSC? How to select/rank those EETs spoken by Kongsberg, BV, Caravel, etc.? What are the estimated capex amount, implementation timeline and breakeven time? Etc. |
Lingfeng Han/ BV (Moderator) |
| Part 2: What enabling conditions are crucial to incentivize local SMSCs to adopt EETs on in-use vessels (70 mins) | ||
| 2:45 – 2:55 PM | How China’s green and transition finance taxonomy1 supports reduction of GHGs from shipping | Gu Beibei / Green Finance Forum of 60 (GF60) |
| 2:55 – 3:05 PM | Hong Kong’s green and transition finance taxonomy1 for shipping | Lionel Mok / Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI, via pre-recorded video) |
| 3:05 – 3:55 PM | Open Floor Discussion:
|
Christine Loh/ HKUST (Moderator) |
| Summary / Closing Remark (5 mins) | ||
| 3:55 – 4:00 PM | Summary / Closing Remark | Christine Loh/ HKUST |
| 4:00 PM onwards | Coffee / Tea Time for Networking – on ground level, foyer of IAS | — |
1 One of the enabling conditions is a green and transition finance taxonomy that supports ship retrofitting with EETs.
| No. | Organization / Company | Name of Speaker | Job Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BV | Daniel Song | Head of Expertise Center Sustainability, Future Shipping Team |
| 2 | BV | Lingfeng Han | Bureau Veritas, M&O Hong Kong Manager |
| 3 | GF60 | Gu Beibei | Vice President |
| 4 | CBI | Lionel Mok | Ex-Policy Consultant |
| 5 | HKUST | Christine Loh | Chief Development Strategist |
Speakers' Biographies:
Daniel Song
Daniel SONG, Head of Shipping Expertise Center Sustainability, Future Shipping Team (FST). Joined Bureau Veritas in 2021, in charge of the technical and marketing support for the ship's sustainability, doing the research of the shipping's alternative and innovation technologies.
Graduated from Dalian Maritime University with Master degree in Marine Engineering.
Lingfeng Han
Lingfeng Han started his career from Hong Kong Ocean Tramping Company limited as Engine Cadet, after graduated from Ji Mei university in year 1993. He studied for a MSc of Marine Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in 2004, after his last sailing command as Class 1 Marine Chief Engineer in 2003. He then worked for various international companies in senior management roles including V. Ships UK Ltd, Seapeak (ex-Teekay LNG), Flex LNG and IMC Ship Management.
In year 2024, He joined Bureau Veritas Marine and Offshore Hong Kong as General Manager.
Gu Beibei
A dedicated sustainability professional, Beibei Gu brings over a decade of experience in research, policy advocacy and project management in the field of green economy, climate finance and sustainable growth. She has advised UN organisations, development agencies, financial institutions, philanthropy and civil society organisations in China and across the emerging market on strategy, impact and partnerships building. She currently serves as the Vice president of Shanghai Jinsinan Institute of Finance, overseeing strategic partnership and international cooperation through the Green Finance Forum of 60, an international platform convening global figures and thought-leaders from finance, business and sustainability fields with a mission to mobilize innovative capital for climate solutions in China and beyond. Ms. Gu holds a master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy from American University in the US and a bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering from Tongji University in China.
Lionel Mok
Lionel has over a decade of experience working in sustainable finance policy. He previously worked for the Climate Bonds Initiative where he oversaw the drafting of the CBI Taxonomy criteria for the shipping sector. The CBI Taxonomy shipping criteria have been adopted into the sustainable finance taxonomies of numerous markets including in Hong Kong. He currently works as the Sustainable Finance Program Lead of Civic Exchange, a HK-based non-profit public policy think-tank, where he oversees the organizations engagements with public and private-sector stakeholders and helps to build capacity on sustainable finance. Lionel has also worked for the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. He holds a PhD in Environmental Science, Policy and management from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Christine Loh
Prof. Christine Loh is the Chief Development Strategist at the Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Previously, she held the positions of Special Consultant to the Office of the Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government on the ecological civilization aspects of the Greater Bay Area Outline Development Plan (2019-2020); and Under Secretary for the Environment in the HKSAR Government (2012-2017). She was the CEO of Civic Exchange, an independent non-profit public policy think tank (2000-2012). Before that, Prof. Loh served as a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, first appointed in 1992 and later elected in 1995 and 1998. Earlier, she spent 14 years in the private commercial sector in commodities trading. Currently, she is a Director of New Forests Pty Limited, Towngas Smart Energy Company Limited, CDP Worldwide, and Global Maritime Forum. She is also a founding Advisor to Hong Kong Green Finance Association.