North Star has delivered significant progress in its transition to operating a net zero fleet by 2045, thanks to its 400 million pound commitment combined with a 1.8 million pound investment in crew training.
The U.K.’s largest integrated ship owner-operator has a fleet of 48 vessels. Findings from its 2024 ESG report spotlight a year of rapid transformation and performance. Highlights include an 18 percent reduction in fleet-wide carbon intensity compared to 2022, alongside a 15 percent year-on-year cut in Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The 12-month analysis illustrates the successful deployment of the company’s first three service operation vessels (SOVs) under long-term charter agreements. Since 2024, a fourth SOV has been operational at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, while the firm’s first methanol-ready SOV has commenced work under a European contract. Three more SOVs are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026. “Our ESG performance isn’t simply a compliance exercise, it’s integral to how we make decisions. By embedding sustainability into operational decision-making, we’ve cut emissions, improved efficiency and secured major new charters,” said Jen Redman, strategic projects manager.
These improvements have been driven by the transition toward new, more fuel-efficient vessels as new SOVs are delivered, a focus on efficiency in vessel route planning, and an awareness campaign that drives ships’ crew to place an emphasis on fuel efficiency in operational decision making.
Its growing SOV fleet is designed with hybrid propulsion, battery-ready architecture, and green methanol compatibility, enabling seamless integration of zero-emission technologies as they scale. AI-enabled vessel planning and predictive maintenance capabilities, a fully integrated ERP and emissions monitoring systems are already live across the fleet, allowing the North Star team to identify and encourage efficiency across all operations.
“Operating in one of the world’s most essential and emissions-intensive sectors brings with it a profound responsibility to lead the transition to cleaner, more sustainable operations,” said North Star CEO Gitte Gard Talmo.
In addition to significant investment into new technology systems and solutions, North Star has also invested 1.8 million pounds in the last 12 months to training and crew development. This supports the transition of many seafarers from traditional oil-and-gas emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs) to state-of-the-art SOVs. As part of this initiative, 120 cadets have been onboarded through the U.K.’s largest maritime training program, underscoring North Star’s commitment to developing the next generation of marine professionals.
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