The past year has been marked by continued geopolitical turbulence and economic uncertainty. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East persist, and globally, we are witnessing increased unrest and instability. Political tensions and possible upcoming trade wars make the future even more unpredictable. Additionally, global warming continues, and measures to mitigate its impact are progressing slowly. Still there is no reason to be gloomy. For the most part we have experienced successes and work has been done in good spirits this year as well.
Despite external challenges, we remain confident and committed to the future. A highlight of this year was our decision to kick off our fleet renewal program with the order of two newbuildings. These vessels, designed to run on biofuel, are crucial for accelerating our green transition and achieving our goal of net zero emissions by the end of the 2030s, reinforcing our role in sustainable shipping.
We have also expanded our capacity by about 15% compared to last year. The larger fleet has brought greater flexibility, improved operational efficiency, and opportunities to expand our customer base. As part of our efforts to reduce emissions, we recognize the trend towards larger shipment sizes and will respond by adding slightly larger ships to our fleet.
In addition to renewing and expanding the fleet, we have worked to ensure the availability of biofuel for our vessels. Our in-house production provides access to one of the future fuels. Our EcoVoy concept, which enables carbon-free sea transport, has gained increased interest, resulting in new assignments with customers seeking to lower their environmental impact.
Our business depends on how well we meet our customers’ needs and expectations. We appreciate having such clients who constructively challenge and encourage us to improve our offerings. Because our relationship is symbiotic, we have every reason to wish our customers to be successful in their business.
Besides customers we also rely on effective collaboration with numerous partners, suppliers, and authorities both domestically and internationally. I extend my gratitude to everyone for their support over the past year and look forward to continued cooperation in the future.
Lastly, I would like to thank the crew onboard our ships, who consistently year-round strive to fulfill our commitments to our partners.
On behalf of the entire Meriaura staff, I wish you a pleasant holiday season and a successful new year!
Beppe Rosin
CEO Meriaura Ltd
