Following the conclusion of Posidonia 2026, the maritime industry remains caught between long term net zero ambitions and the immediate operational realities of global shipping. While debates around future alternative fuels like ammonia and hydrogen continue, the pragmatic truth is that conventional liquid fuels and biofuels will dominate the market for years to come.

In this interview with Adonis Violaris of CSN, Gerald Baiwir, Head of Environmental & Industrial Development at Aderco, discusses the critical need to optimise the fuel vessels are burning right now rather than waiting for tomorrow’s infrastructure. He explains how Aderco’s newly launched 2055G+ programme is dispelling the stigma around traditional fuel additives by combining 100% vegetal organic treatments with independently verified data. By turning verifiable emissions reductions into Gold Standard certified carbon credits, Baiwir outlines how shipowners can proactively manage EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime requirements while generating a tangible return on investment today.

The Post-Posidonia Reality of the Fuel Mix

Posidonia 2026 has concluded with endless debates surrounding alternative future fuels like ammonia and hydrogen. However, the reality for the global merchant fleet is that liquid fossil fuels and biofuels will remain the dominant energy source for years to come. Reflecting on your discussions with Greek and international shipowners in Athens this month, do you feel that operators are finally waking up to the critical need to optimize the fuel they are burning right now?

Yes, I do hear a loud wake-up call. Owners and operators are shifting their focus from ‘which fuel will we adopt in the future?’ to ‘how do we make the fuel we’re using today as clean and cost-effective as possible?’. This is creating an obvious entry point for biofuels, which can be adopted with minimal interference to existing engine arrangements.

In practice, operators do not have the luxury of waiting for ‘perfect’ future solutions in the face of CII, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance costs; they want to proactively make their current operations more competitive and future-proof today. Ammonia and hydrogen may become more widely adopted by our industry at some stage, but the infrastructure and value proposition just aren’t there yet.

One conversation I had in Athens with a Greek shipowner really summed up this shift in mindset. His fleet operates 100% on tramping trades, meaning his ships must be able to call at over two thousand ports worldwide. His point was simple : “How many of these ports can actually guarantee hydrogen or ammonia bunkering today? We are pragmatic people, the future is decided today. I am constantly looking for solutions that help me improve fuel economy, like those Aderco offers.”

The Launch of 2055G+: A New Approach to Maritime Decarbonisation
Aderco has recently launched the 2055G+ programme, combining fuel treatment technology with verified emissions monitoring and Gold Standard-certified carbon credit generation. What market gap prompted the development of 2055G+, and how do you see this integrated approach changing the way shipowners think about decarbonisation and regulatory compliance?

Shipowners and operators require verifiable data to comply with those regulatory frameworks and to maintain commercial viability. Aderco’s new 2055G+ service addresses this by combining high-performance fuel treatment with precise data monitoring.

Integrated with our 2055G fuel additive, 2055G+ analyses noon report data across a vessel’s dry dock cycle to deliver an accurate overview of fuel consumption and emissions. This removes the guesswork from green claims and generates certified, Gold Standard-compliant carbon credits. Furthermore, by monetising these credits, operators can create extra revenue streams to offset the costs of green technology installations.

2055G+ reduces overall fuel consumption and provides an all-in-one program that simplifies data collection and reporting for owners, operators and charterers.

Before the introduction of 2055G+, this data was typically gathered retroactively and from multiple sources. This was a painstaking task, and errors could easily slip through. By switching to this streamlined solution, owners and operators can ensure they are accessing entirely accurate data.

Direct Financial Relief Under EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime

How does the new 2055G+ programme change the financial equation for shipowners and operators navigating EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime requirements? With verified emissions reductions, transparent performance monitoring and the potential to generate Gold Standard-certified carbon credits, what tangible cost savings and new revenue opportunities can fleet managers realistically expect from adopting the programme?

2055G+ flips the financial equation by turning environmental compliance into a clear return on investment. Vessel owners get to directly reduce their EU ETS exposure and improve their FuelEU Maritime compliance.

Beyond lowering fuel bills and reducing compliance costs, the programme’s transparent monitoring turns CO₂ reductions into Gold Standard-certified carbon credits that owners can sell, enabling them to create new revenue streams while simultaneously boosting their CII ratings. To provide just two real-life examples, class society RINA verified a 3.25% reduction in CO2 emissions aboard a Capesize vessel using 2055G+, while ABS confirmed a 4.84% reduction aboard a similarly equipped reefer vessel.

Moving Past the “Chemical Additive” Stigma

The maritime engineering community has historically been highly conservative and deeply skeptical of fuel additives, often viewing them as unproven “magic potions” that risk engine warranties. Drawing from your extensive background as a vessel operator and marine executive, how is Aderco using independent, real-world data and multi-year fleet partnerships to break down this traditional resistance?

I think every vessel operator has been pitched ‘magic potions’ at some point, and people are right to be sceptical about claims that have not been independently verified by trusted, third-party experts.

At Aderco, we back up any marketing promises with hard, indisputable science and data. We don’t ask engineers to trust ‘us’ but to trust the data. Every result is validated by independent third-party specialists using gold-standard verification methodologies, providing vessel owners and operators with complete confidence in the accuracy and transparency of the data. We’re also mindful that owners may have had previous experience of traditional fuel additives, which often contain heavy metals or minerals that leave behind abrasive ash deposits when burned, which can jeopardise engine manufacturer warranties.

Because our treatment is 100% vegetal organic based and ashless, it eliminates the risk of ash or residues causing damage to the engine. Aderco has also been certified B Corp, meaning that it meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability.

Protecting Charter-Readiness and RightShip Vetting Scores

With charterers and financiers placing increasing scrutiny on environmental performance and operational efficiency, how can the 2055G+ programme help vessel owners strengthen their competitiveness? Specifically, how do verified emissions reductions, improved fuel performance and transparent reporting contribute to stronger CII outcomes, enhanced charter appeal and greater confidence during third-party vetting and due diligence processes?

2055G+ can help owners boost their competitiveness by turning environmental compliance into a direct commercial advantage. Firstly, by delivering emissions reductions of between 3-5%, as verified by top-tier classification societies, 2055G+ improves a vessel’s CII ratings and reduces the owner’s EU ETS exposure without any major capex or fuel changes.

Secondly, our transparent, continuous monitoring provides the accurate, auditable data that charterers and financiers now demand. This gives owners a significant competitive edge in making their vessels highly attractive to charterers who prioritise ESG performance. It’s not just about being ‘compliant’ but being ‘preferred’ when contracts are put out to tender.

The Operational Roadmap for the Remainder of 2026

As we look ahead at the second half of 2026, freight markets remain volatile and environmental penalties are growing stricter by the month. What is your primary piece of advice to technical directors who are currently struggling to bridge the gap between their ambitious long-term net-zero goals and the immediate commercial reality of their daily fleet operations?

You must work with what you currently have. The global infrastructure for many alt-fuels is years behind schedule; you can’t run profitable fleet operations on future hopes and promises. To bridge the gap today, owners are best advised to look at the organic fuel treatments that are available and combine them with operational optimisation. Commercial and efficiency gains can stack up quite substantially using this approach. In the past, options to achieve energy transition have often felt like ‘all-or-nothing’ propositions, but that mentality is increasingly viewed as impractical compared with pursuing steady, incremental changes.

Use of data is crucial, to guarantee accuracy and secure verified carbon credits. Operators should view their daily compliance efforts not so much as a headache but as a means of generating a return on investment that protects their bottom line.