ABS and PIL to Advance Maritime Decarbonisation with Alternative Marine Fuel Emissions Verification
(SINGAPORE) ABS and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have announced a formal collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support PIL’s participation in Book and Claim registries, enabling credible and independently verified claims of emission reductions from alternative marine fuels.
The MOU brings together PIL’s operational experience, fleet data and customer insights with ABS’s capabilities in classification, certification and assurance to strengthen the credibility and consistency of emissions-related claims associated with the use of low-and zero-emissions marine fuels.
Under the MOU, ABS will serve as an independent third-party verifier for PIL’s fuel consumption, transport activity and emissions data, providing the rigorous, transparent oversight that credible book and claim participation demands.
“ABS is committed to helping clients navigate maritime digitalization with clarity and confidence. As digitalization accelerates, independent data verification is essential to building the trust that drives meaningful progress. ABS brings deep technical expertise to this work, and we are pleased to support PIL's commitment to reducing emissions across its fleet,” said Rostom Merzouki, ABS Vice President, Global Sustainability.
“PIL is committed to advancing practical decarbonization solutions for customers and industry. Our MoU with ABS enhances oversight and independent assurance for Book and Claim, ensuring consistent and reliable assessment of emissions and fuel data. This supports broader adoption of low- and zero-emission fuels as their availability grows, while maintaining accuracy in emissions claims,” said Abhishek Chawla, PIL Chief Marine Officer.
The long-term collaboration will focus on fostering transparency and driving continuous improvement in emissions monitoring and reporting. It also supports PIL’s broader decarbonization strategy in alignment with international maritime emission reduction goals set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The Book and Claim mechanism, in the context of shipping, would be a chain-of-custody approach where environmental attributes are tracked and transferred separately from the physical fuel delivery or use on a specific voyage or vessel. Done through clear rules and a trusted registry, it can help customers access low- and zero-emission fuel solutions and support credible emissions reporting without being constrained by immediate fuel availability on a given route.
Photo Caption (L to R): Arnab Ghosh, ABS Vice President, Pacific Regional Business Development; Michael Ma, ABS Senior Manager, Global Sustainability; Jerid Soo, PIL Assistant General Manager, Global Sustainability and ESG; and Abhishek Chawla, PIL Chief Marine Officer at the 2026 Singapore Maritime Week conference
About ABS
ABS, a global leader in classification services, is focused on delivering a safer, cleaner future for the marine and offshore industries. For over 160 years, ABS has been setting standards for safety and excellence and continues to innovate in the fields of clean technology, digitalization and artificial intelligence, providing industry-leading technical advisory services. With a global network of surveyors, engineers, technology specialists and support staff, ABS works with industry leaders including its members and clients around the world to improve safety in operational performance and efficiency with innovative solutions for the complete life cycle of marine and offshore assets.
About Pacific International Lines:
Pacific International Lines (PIL) is among the top 12 container shipping lines in the world. Established in Singapore in 1967, PIL is the largest home grown carrier in Southeast Asia.
PIL serves customers in over 500 locations, with a focus on Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Oceania and the Pacific Islands, by harnessing a dense network of owned agencies and intermodal services, in more than 90 countries worldwide.
Operating a fleet of over 100 container vessels, PIL provides shipping services and solutions across a variety of products, including dry, refrigerated, breakbulk and special cargo to bring sustainable value to our customers with end-to-end transportation solutions.
For more information, visit www.pilship.com.