If in the recent past the Covid-19 pandemic and the recession global problems have been the dominant among the various factors of risk facing the shipping sector, now The predominant concern has become instability policy of recent years together with the ongoing green transition in industry. This is highlighted by the "ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2024-2025", the annual report on the state of trust of the shipping industry developed by the Association International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) chaired by Emanuele Grimaldi.

The report points out that the factor of instability policy is at the heart of all the other major factors of identified by respondents: administrative burdens, trade barriers and cyberattacks, all strictly linked to governments and geopolitics. In particular, attacks by state and non-state actors are in growth and a 2025 report from the Government Accountability Office warns of the need for urgent action in the maritime sector to address the vulnerabilities of the cybersecurity that expose it to such threats. The growing dependence of the sector on digital infrastructure, and from artificial intelligence keeps this risk on top to the agenda.

The analysis of data from the ICS Maritime Barometer survey, which is lasted four years, reveals a decline in the confidence of the leaders of the maritime sector in the management of risks arising from political instability, with companies in the sector have had to adapt to rapidly changing operational scenarios and with crews and ships that are too often considered damage of conflict situations. The report highlights, However, the opportunities presented by them geopolitical tensions, with the ongoing trade war between the US and the China which, for example, on the one hand adds further uncertainty but It also opens up new opportunities as trade are diverted and new agreements between nations and the EU are explored to ensure greater supply chain stability. The analysis notes that China looks set to increase its trade with the Global South, while the countries Latin Americans are seeing more opportunities for export as their products are becoming more attractive to US and global buyers.

The analysis then focuses on the green transition of industry of shipping, specifying that regulations remain the most important element most significant of the key issues of this path that affect commercial activities. The report recalls whereas much of this change is driven by the evolution of European Union regulations and of the International Maritime Organization and notes that the results of the of last April's meeting of IMO MEPC 83, including the Net Zero Framework, could sustain the high levels of industry confidence recorded in this year's survey for managing the impact of market-based regulations and measures, if supported by pragmatic policies that are easy to apply and implement in practice.

The analysis explains that, given the uncertainty surrounding the scenario and the evolution of legislation on the Decarbonization, the leaders of the maritime sector are definitely more optimistic about marine fuel options and place little confidence, on the other hand, in all fuels and in all alternative zero- or near-zero-emission technologies that are expected to be an alternative in the next decade. On the contrary, the report points out, natural gas HFOs with abatement technology and biofuels are clearly in the lead in this year's results, with a majority of 55% of respondents in favor of LNG. If methanol and ammonia remain the key choices for the future of marine fuels, however, with the emergence of realities that hinder the availability of alternative fuels and infrastructure for their supply, the leaders of the maritime sector seem to be feel more comfortable planning operations around fuels that have consolidated infrastructure of distribution as well as bunkering and security operations clearer notes and cost profiles.

The report highlights that the maritime transport sector risks missing its decarbonisation targets without strong economic and regulatory signals and an increase in funding factors, factors that the survey shows currently stand at at an all-time low in the last four years and represent one of the main elements weighing on the confidence of operators in the sector. The analysis notes that investments are needed both public and private sectors to guide the final decisions of investment in the energy sector and enable a sustainable Scalable fuel and low-emission technologies at the pace of necessary for a rapid green transition of shipping. The economics of the fuels of the future can be otherwise seem insurmountable for industry, with high initial production costs, and therefore high fuel costs, which can only be reduced with significant investments and the implementation of infrastructures and technologies. The report explains whereas it is up to big players, including governments and banks, to strengthen the leaders in the maritime industry and ensure that there are Solid foundations for greater ambition on the transition front Energy.