The topic of this year's conference was maritime climate protection. Bremen State Councillor Stührenberg welcomed those present and emphasised the relevance of climate-neutral shipping, particularly for Bremen as a shipping location. Prof. Michal Kucera Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen, emphasised the relevance of interdisciplinary exchange and cooperation between science, industry and politics.

H?vard Lien (VARD) provided an overview of alternative ship propulsion systems. Although some fuels have already been extensively researched, the higher costs compared to conventional marine diesel have so far been the biggest obstacle to green transformation.
Dr. Eva Ricarda Baddenhausen (Universit?t Bremen) presented the international and European legal framework for climate-neutral shipping. This is characterised by a multitude of regulations, some of which overlap. The rapid change in the relevant standards further increase the complexity of the regulatory regime. Last autumn, conflicting trends were also observed. Thereafter, Prof. Dr. Katharina Reiling (Universit?t Konstanz) discussed three possible theoretical approaches that could contribute to the design of cross-border regulation of climate-neutral shipping with the participation of public and private actors. The multitude of interests involved and the global relevance of the issue made it particularly challenging to develop a coherent regime.

A concluding panel discussion moderated by PD Dr. Till Markus (Universit?t Bremen) highlighted the economic significance of long-term investments in climate-neutral shipping. Michael Vinnen (Vinnen GmbH & Co KG) and Daniel Sahnen (Meyer Werft) represented the perspective of the maritime industry. Jochen Kre?, Head of Department, Senator for Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, Bremen) emphasised the need for planning security for government investment in green port transshipment.

The conference attracted a broad audience from academia, industry, politics, and administration. Approximately 80 people participated and exchanged ideas on maritime topics. We thank the Maritime Law Research Network for funding the conference and Robert V?lkl, Bremen Shipowners' Association, for their organizational support.

The next conference on maritime law is planned for November 2027.