Berge Bulk, a global dry bulk shipping company operating a fleet of more than 100 vessels, is intensifying its efforts to advance sustainability within the maritime industry. The company has implemented a range of technological innovations aimed at reducing carbon emissions, cutting pollution, and minimising waste, aligning with its broader commitment to environmental stewardship and community support. These initiatives earned Berge Bulk the Impact Enterprise of the Year (Large Enterprise) award at the Sustainability Impact Awards 2026.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO James Marshall, Berge Bulk has established a target of achieving net-zero emissions across its fleet by 2050. To that end, the company is pursuing multiple strategies, including retrofitting ships to reduce drag through new propeller designs, fin modifications, and the use of hull-cleaning technologies such as underwater robots and ultrasonic pulse emitters. These measures lower fuel consumption by maintaining a cleaner hull surface and improving vessel efficiency.

Berge Bulk is also preparing for a transition away from fossil fuels. The company aims to introduce a zero-emissions vessel by 2030 and hopes to operate a fleet entirely free of fossil fuel emissions by 2050. While Berge Bulk has engaged in carbon credit purchases, Marshall emphasized that these are supplementary to direct emission reductions achieved through improved efficiency, technology, lower-emission fuels, and onboard carbon capture. Biofuels have been a focus for near-term decarbonisation efforts, with the fleet conducting trial voyages powered entirely or partially by biodiesel blends derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste cooking oil since 2021. These trials provide operational insights into fuel handling, documentation, and performance while balancing factors such as safety, cost, and feedstock availability.

Looking toward longer-term solutions, Berge Bulk has ordered two ammonia-ready vessels expected by 2028 and is exploring advanced technologies like molten salt nuclear reactors for maritime use. Wind-assisted propulsion is integrated on select vessels operating primarily between Brazil and China, where favorable wind conditions prevail. The company has installed WindWings, developed by BAR Technologies, on the Berge Olympus, enabling annual carbon savings of over 1,600 tonnes. Additionally, rotor sails have been fitted on the Berge Neblina and Berge Meru, each offering more than 1,000 tonnes of annual emission reductions.

Carbon capture technology is another component of Berge Bulk’s sustainability portfolio. The 63,000-tonne Berge Yotei was equipped in 2025 with a system capable of removing up to 15 tonnes of CO₂ daily—about 30% of the ship’s emissions—with the captured carbon dioxide repurposed for industrial applications. Complementing onboard measures, the company supports reforestation efforts focusing on mangrove restoration in Africa and Asia, having planted over 20 million trees with a target of reaching 25 million by the end of 2026.

Beyond emissions reduction, Berge Bulk is committed to combating marine pollution and reducing operational waste. The company is a founding member of the Maritime Association for Clean Seas, which addresses ocean plastic pollution, and has funded the recovery of 100,000 kilograms of plastic from waterways. Employee-led beach clean-ups have removed more than 1,800 kilograms of litter, with specific efforts concentrated near Batam to prevent plastic waste from reaching Singapore’s coastline. The Families Ashore programme engages seafarers’ relatives in environmental activities, including mangrove planting and coastal cleanups, further extending the company’s environmental and community outreach.

Berge Bulk also prioritizes the wellbeing of its crew, implementing peer counseling, wellness initiatives, and improved communication connectivity to address the challenges seafarers face during extended deployments. Since 2019, the company has promoted onboard hydroponic farming, producing over 1.4 tonnes of fresh vegetables and herbs in 2025 to enhance crew nutrition and reduce packaging waste. Food waste has declined by 20% over four years, and plastic water bottles have been nearly eliminated through the installation of water purification systems.

Marshall highlighted that sustainability is integrated into both operational and investment decisions, underscoring that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies contribute commercial benefits such as improved efficiency and risk management. He stressed that industry-wide collaboration is essential to accelerating decarbonisation and implementing effective solutions. "The industry will move faster if we are prepared to collaborate, test, share what we learn, and be honest about what works and what does not," Marshall said, emphasizing the collective responsibility of shipowners, charterers, and regulators in advancing sustainable shipping.