Dubai, UAE — In a historic move to accelerate sustainability in global maritime operations, Dubai-based shipyard Drydocks World has co-founded the Global Green Shipyard Alliance (GGSA), a transformative coalition uniting shipyards across three continents. This landmark initiative aims to reshape the future of shipbuilding, repair, and retrofitting through clean technology adoption, shared environmental goals, and robust ESG standards.
The GGSA brings together five key maritime players: Drydocks World (UAE), Astilleros Shipyard Group (Spain), BREDO Dry Docks GmbH (Germany), and IMC Shipyard Services Group, which operates across Singapore, China, and Thailand. With this multi-regional footprint, the alliance forms a robust platform to drive sustainability at scale — encompassing Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
A Global Coalition for a Greener Maritime Future
The formation of the Global Green Shipyard Alliance is a direct response to escalating international pressure for the maritime industry to decarbonise. As global shipping contributes nearly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, the industry is now under intense scrutiny to adopt cleaner operations in line with international climate goals.
The GGSA’s mission is clear:
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Fast-track the adoption of clean propulsion and power systems
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Promote energy-efficient retrofitting
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Establish and harmonize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks
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Enable shared innovation, including knowledge transfer and co-development projects
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Drive measurable reductions in carbon and pollutant emissions from ships and shipyards alike
Leadership from the Middle East: Drydocks World’s Central Role
As a founding member of GGSA, Drydocks World brings unmatched technical experience and sustainability ambition to the table. Located at the heart of Dubai’s thriving maritime economy, Drydocks World is one of the largest and most advanced shipyards in the Middle East.
According to Captain Rado Antolovic, PhD, CEO of Drydocks World:
“The formation of the Global Green Shipyard Alliance reflects our shared responsibility to accelerate the maritime industry’s decarbonisation journey. At Drydocks World, we are proud to be a founding member of this important initiative and to collaborate with our global counterparts to advance more sustainable, efficient practices across the sector.”
This partnership positions Drydocks World—and by extension, Dubai—as a maritime leader in ESG, bolstering the UAE’s national vision for green innovation and environmental responsibility.
From Commitment to Action: Practical Sustainability Outcomes
The GGSA is not just symbolic—it is a mechanism for real-world impact. By pooling expertise and sharing innovation, the alliance is already focused on delivering:
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Hybrid propulsion retrofits for aging fleets
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Emission-compliant conversions to meet IMO 2030/2050 standards
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Digital optimization tools for predictive maintenance and energy usage
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Standardized waste and emissions monitoring systems
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Guidelines for low-carbon newbuild practices
Imran Inamdar, COO at Drydocks World, further emphasized the alliance’s practical approach:
“Drydocks World has long championed innovation and sustainability in ship repair. Through the Global Green Shipyard Alliance, we have an opportunity to work alongside our peers to drive measurable improvements across shipbuilding and retrofitting practices.”
Knowledge Sharing Across Borders
One of the most powerful components of GGSA is its commitment to open innovation. By working together, these shipyards avoid duplication of effort and benefit from each other’s R&D, lessons learned, and regional regulatory experiences. This cooperative framework is designed to break down silos and increase the speed of sustainability implementation.
Whether it’s Spain’s innovation in LNG retrofits, Germany’s advancements in shipyard electrification, or Southeast Asia’s modular shipbuilding methods — all these capabilities are now shared across the GGSA platform.
Aligned with Global Maritime Goals
The launch of the GGSA coincides with international maritime policy shifts, including:
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IMO’s Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships
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EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for maritime
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UAE’s National Maritime Strategy and Net Zero 2050 goals
The GGSA is designed to act in alignment with these frameworks, helping shipowners and operators meet rising compliance standards while reducing long-term operating costs.
Drydocks World: Powering Progress at Scale
With more than 4,000 meters of berth space, five major docks, and the capacity to serve 10 Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) simultaneously, Drydocks World is no stranger to scale. Its ability to manage complex repair, refurbishment, and conversion projects makes it a perfect driver of the alliance’s ambitions.
Drydocks World is also pioneering efforts in offshore wind platforms, further contributing to the broader energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
Three Pillars of the GGSA Strategy
The alliance is built around three core pillars:
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Technology Transfer
Enabling shipyards to share sustainable technologies like exhaust gas cleaning systems, battery solutions, and green hull coatings. -
Unified ESG Reporting
Developing standardized reporting metrics to ensure transparency, benchmarking, and investor trust. -
Innovation Acceleration
Facilitating R&D partnerships for faster rollout of next-gen propulsion, AI-driven shipyard tools, and carbon capture for ships.
Part of a Bigger Movement: DP World’s Broader ESG Vision
The GGSA marks DP World’s third global sustainability coalition, following:
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Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA) — focused on electrifying port equipment
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First Movers Coalition — enabling joint investment in zero-emission technologies
These initiatives are part of DP World’s strategy to become a global leader in sustainable trade and maritime infrastructure.
About Drydocks World
A subsidiary of DP World, Drydocks World has over 40 years of operational excellence in marine, offshore oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. The facility also boasts:
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Middle East’s largest load-out jetty (37,000-tonne capacity)
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A track record of 300+ projects per year
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The ability to simultaneously manage 42 refurbishment projects
This scale and expertise make Drydocks World the go-to partner for global maritime clients seeking high-performance, sustainable engineering solutions.
Looking Ahead: From Strategy to Execution
The GGSA’s mission is long-term, but its actions begin now. Over the next 12 months, the alliance plans to:
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Launch pilot retrofit programs using hybrid and LNG technologies
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Develop an open-source ESG framework for global shipyards
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Host joint training programs and innovation workshops
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Begin tracking and reporting on GHG reductions across member sites
As regulatory, investor, and customer pressure for sustainable practices grows, the GGSA is poised to provide the maritime industry with the tools, standards, and partnerships it needs to thrive in a low-carbon world.
For More Information:
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Visit: www.drydocks.gov.ae
