Drydocks World joins the Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre as newest international member
LONDON : The partnership marks a significant step in the Centre’s international expansion and its focus on delivering practical decarbonisation solutions for the existing fleet.
The Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre (MERC) has welcomed Drydocks World, a DP World company, as its latest Centre member, strengthening the consortium’s technical depth and expanding its global network.
The signing of the agreement brings one of the world’s leading ship repair and retrofit facilities into the Athens-based non-profit industry collaboration, which was co-established by the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub and leading shipowners Capital Group, Navios Maritime Partners, Neda Maritime Agency, Star Bulk and Thenamaris (Ships Management) Inc., with enabling support from Lloyd’s Register.
Drydocks World’s long-standing reputation for delivering complex engineering projects, coupled with its experience in integrating advanced technologies on board operating vessels, will be central to MERC’s next phase of collaborative work. With shipyards playing an increasingly important role in the integration of energy efficiency systems, Drydocks World expertise is expected to influence how technologies are assessed, prioritised and deployed across different vessel types.
Drydocks World enters the consortium at a time when MERC is broadening its research and development programmes. These include deeper technical studies into emerging energy efficiency technologies, practical pathways for integrating more complex systems on existing vessels, and expanded work across hydrodynamic performance, wind-assisted propulsion, alternative auxiliary power solutions and data-driven operational optimisation.
Nikos Kakalis, MERC Managing Director, said: “Drydocks World’s involvement provides an essential layer of applied engineering experience that complements MERC’s technical and analytical work. The organisation brings the kind of practical insight that is only gained through decades of delivering major retrofit projects. This expertise will help us understand not only what is technically possible, but what can be delivered efficiently and safely in a real shipyard environment.
“That combination of deep engineering knowledge and hands-on experience will help MERC ensure that emerging technologies can be installed safely, efficiently and in a commercially viable way.”
Captain Rado Antolovic, PhD, CEO of Drydocks World, said: “Joining MERC allows us to contribute our engineering and retrofit experience to a collaborative effort that is focused on solutions the industry can actually implement. The challenges of decarbonising the existing fleet require practical, evidence-based approaches, and we see real value in working alongside MERC’s partners to help shape technologies and integration strategies that will work across different vessel types.”
About the Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre
The Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre (MERC) was established through the joint initiative of six founding members — Capital Group, Navios Maritime Partners, Neda Maritime Agency, Star Bulk, Thenamaris (Ships Management) Inc., and Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub. These organisations united around a common purpose: to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping fleet.
Each founding member brings a unique set of capabilities, perspectives, and commitments. Together, they have created a neutral, collaborative platform designed to deliver practical, scalable solutions. MERC focuses on enabling evidence-based innovation and supporting the maritime sector’s transition to a more efficient, lower-emissions future.
About The Decarb Hub
The Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (commonly known as The Decarb Hub) is an independent, non-profit initiative established through a partnership between Lloyd’s Register Foundation — a global charity with a mission to engineer a safer world — and Lloyd’s Register Group, a global provider of maritime professional services with over 260 years of heritage. This partnership brings together the Foundation’s public benefit mandate and focus on societal resilience, with the Group’s deep technical expertise and trusted relationships across the maritime industry. Positioned at the intersection of these two organisations, the Hub is uniquely equipped to accelerate the safe, sustainable, and human-centric decarbonisation of global shipping — combining neutrality with influence, and research with real-world application. For more information, go to www.thedecarbhub.org
About Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine and offshore engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.
Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.
We also provide advisory services and digital solutions, supporting fleet and voyage performance and optimisation. Our digital solutions are relied upon by more than 30,000 vessels, following the acquisition of OneOcean in 2022 and Ocean Technologies Group in 2024.
In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.
Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.
About Lloyd’s Register Foundation
Lloyd’s Register Foundation is an independent global charity that supports research, innovation, and education to make the world a safer place. Its mission is to use the best evidence and insight to help the global community focus on tackling the world’s most pressing safety and risk challenges. For more information, please visit www.lrfoundation.org.uk
