Event brought together naval sector executives at Fogo de Chão in Botafogo to discuss decarbonization, geopolitics, and new IMO requirements
On the evening of March 12th, WSB Advisors was present at the workshop “Promoting a Sustainable Transition for Shipowners and Charterers: Metizoft PowerSave and Strategic Alignment with New Maritime Sector Regulations,” hosted by Vitor Máximo of Norwegian company Metizoft. The event gathered prominent executives in one of the rooms at the renowned Fogo de Chão restaurant in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro.
The agenda was substantive and well-managed, balancing technical presentations with strategic discussions about the challenges shipowners and charterers will face in the coming years—and in many cases, are already facing today.
A Tool for the Times We Live In
Metizoft opened the proceedings by presenting PowerSave, their online platform designed for energy management, fuel consumption control, and pollutant emissions monitoring on cabotage and offshore vessels. Through a real-time visual demonstration, attendees were able to follow the tool’s functionalities and, above all, its ease of use—a decisive factor for adoption by shipowners.
The Weight of Regulation
Next, Commander Fernando Alberto of the Brazilian Navy delivered a presentation on the implications of IMO resolution MEPC.377(80), adopted in 2023 as part of the global fleet decarbonization program through 2030. It was a necessary discussion, still laden with practical questions about its implementation.
Geopolitics, Oil, and Innovation at Sea
Captain Jones A. B. Soares, director of maritime transport at Transpetro, delivered one of the most anticipated presentations of the evening. With a comprehensive and well-grounded perspective, Jones contextualized the current geopolitical landscape—including the impacts of the Middle East conflict on the oil supply chain and long-term price projections in the international market.
He also presented an overview of Transpetro’s current fleet and shared a thought-provoking figure: maritime transport accounts for approximately 3% of global pollutant emissions. While a small slice, it’s one the sector has been working to reduce. Jones highlighted the advances already achieved by the company, including new hull designs, the use of cutting-edge anti-fouling paints, and the adoption of onboard equipment with lower energy consumption—technologies that, together, are already changing the fleet’s consumption profile.
Networking and Closing
To close out the evening, guests were invited to a relaxed networking cocktail hour, which allowed for deeper conversations begun during the presentations and strengthened connections within the sector. In attendance were several important names in shipping, including engineer Djalma from Transpetro, Commander Resano from Syndarma, and members of FIRJAN and the Naval Technology Cluster.
Engineer Paulo Rolim, consultant and board member at WSB Advisors, and Romulo Bacchiega, head of content and sales at Westhon Media, left the event with the clear sense that the energy transition in the maritime sector is no longer a future discussion—it’s happening now, with regulations in force, technologies available, and decisions that need to be made. Being present at these gatherings, alongside the key players in the naval market, is an essential part of our commitment to closely monitoring the transformations shaping the market in which we operate.
