Chair Laurence W. Odfjell joined hosts Nick Chubb and Raal Harris on the Undocked podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, decarbonization, and driving change in shipping

The conversation delves into climate action and the industry’s response to the deferral of the IMO’s Net Zero framework.

Laurence expresses his frustration with the delay but stresses the need to move forward based on three key principles: well-to-wake thinking, efficiency first, and fuel flexibility. He highlights Odfjell’s 54% reduction in carbon intensity since 2008, achieved through operational discipline and smart investment. 

They also discuss the near net-zero voyage of Bow Olympus, equipped with suction sails and powered by certified B100 biofuel. The voyage demonstrated the technical and economic viability of sustainable fuel, achieving near-zero emissions at only a 15% cost premium.

Laurence attributes this success to Odfjell’s collaborative culture and its “common bottom line,” where operational and financial decisions go hand in hand. 

The discussion extends to artificial intelligence and innovation. Laurence explains how AI is helping optimize weather routing and operational planning, and he advises maritime tech innovators to focus on solving real problems, quantifying the benefits, and building trust through data. 

On diversity and leadership, Laurence shares Odfjell’s commitment to recruiting more women to sea and fostering inclusion across gender, age, and experience. Diversity, he notes, is not just a moral imperative but a business advantage. 

His closing message to the industry: act now with the tools we already have, because every year of delay comes at a greater cost than we realize. 

Watch the full podcast here: