The Trillion-Dollar revolution
PRESS RELEASE_ENG: The IMO's mandate reshapes global shipping as Brazil unveils a decarbonization pioneer project at COP30
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INDUSTRY / GLOBAL / SUSTAINABILITY / COP30
The Trillion-Dollar revolution: The IMO’s mandate reshapes global shipping as Brazil unveils a decarbonization pioneer project at COP30
The countdown has begun for a regulatory mandate that, once formalized, possesses the power to fundamentally transform the economics of global shipping: the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) stringent decarbonization targets. For an industry responsible for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, this shift is quickly becoming an unavoidable obligation.
Brazil, Belém City, November 2025 - The IMO’s measures, expected to be formalized in October 2026 and take effect starting in 2028, will require aggressive annual cuts in carbon intensity: 30% by 2035 and 65% by 2040, culminating in net-zero emissions around 2050.
With this mandate in force, an environmental directive instantly morphs into a financial revolution due to massive projected penalties. Once the rules are confirmed, vessels that fail to meet the targets face fines that could soar as high as $380 per ton of CO2 emitted above the allowed limit.
For the global fleet, this is an estimated liability exceeding one trillion dollars ($1T), a powerful financial force that effectively renders low-cost, heavy-fuel-based business models obsolete.
Brazil's Green Hydrogen Answer
The central question now dominating the sector is which technology will win the race to become the cornerstone of the new global fleet. While other shipping giants test solutions utilizing methanol and ammonia, a bold and pragmatic alternative is set for its official launch on November 9th, the eve of the opening of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
This is Project JAQ Hydrogen, a group tasked with producing 100% self-sufficient, hydrogen-powered vessels. At the launch event, the JAQ H1—a magnificent 36-meter research and exploration vessel—will be presented for the first time, showcasing its entire on-board operation ("hotel services") ready to run on green hydrogen.
Project JAQ Hydrogen is the brainchild of the influential Grupo Náutica and is closely coordinated by its visionary President, Ernani Paciornik, a veteran with over five decades of success in the sector. Paciornik has assembled an ecosystem designed for viability, combining his expertise with the renewable energy power of Itaipu Parquetec, the industrial strength of GWM, and the technological validation of one of the biggest names in naval engineering: MAN. The project is further supported by major corporate backers known for sustainable initiatives, including Heineken, Café Orfeu, and Artefacto.
"The production cost of green hydrogen remains a significant hurdle. However, the cost of electrolysis technology is rapidly falling, with projections indicating a reduction of up to 70% in the next decade," explains Paciornik. "More importantly, the Return on Investment (ROI) calculation can no longer ignore the escalating cost of non-compliance with IMO rules. Despite final formalizations being delayed, they are expected to be concrete within a year, with implementation starting around 2028."
The JAQ H1: A Laboratory for the Future
The JAQ H1, currently in final testing at the Inace shipyard in Fortaleza City, is preparing for its global premiere. It was designed to function as a "floating laboratory" for research and environmental education. Its strategic mission is to demonstrate the reliability and safety of hydrogen technology, ready to use.
Furthermore, Paciornik anticipates that the COP30 platform will also be used to confirm the project's next phases and the successor vessel, the JAQ H2. This 50-meter vessel, slated for completion in 2027, will be capable of 100% self-sufficient operation.
"For an industry facing a scarcity of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, this transitional solution is the answer the market is looking for," the executive adds.
About Grupo Náutica
With over 40 years in the market, Grupo Náutica delivers solutions in innovation, sustainability, infrastructure, events, and communication for the maritime and nautical sectors. Its portfolio includes Náutica, the pioneer and leading magazine in the sector in Brazil; the Boat Show, the most important nautical exhibition in Latin America with editions in major Brazilian cities; Metalu, the world’s largest manufacturer of aluminum piers and walkways; SF Marina, a global specialist in concrete floating docks and breakwaters; and JAQ Hydrogen, focused on innovative research and sustainability projects. The group is also dedicated to social causes, including the environmental campaign “Só Jogue na Água o que Peixe pode Comer” (Only Throw in the Water What Fish Can Eat) and “Por Uma Cidade Navegável” (For a Navigable City), which advocates for expanded inland waterway navigation.
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