Episode 105: Decarbonization Meets Digital - zero44’s Vision for Maritime Compliance

Episode 105: Decarbonization Meets Digital -  zero44’s Vision for Maritime Compliance

Guest: Friederike Hesse, Co-founder & Managing Director, zero44

Episode Overview:
In this episode, we sit down with Friederike Hesse, Co-founder and Managing Director of zero44, a Berlin-based startup helping the maritime industry navigate decarbonization through smart digital tools. From FuelEU Maritime to commercial strategy and pooling, Friederike breaks down how zero44 is giving operators a way to not only comply—but thrive.

Key Points:

1. The FuelEU Maritime Effect: How upcoming EU regulations are shaping behavior in chartering and operations.
2. From Vision to Product: The founding of zero44 and why decarbonization isn’t just about emissions—it’s about economics.
3. Pooling and Compliance: Why zero44 built tooling to handle pooling mechanics and its impact on chartering relationships.
4. Making Decarbonization Commercial: Friederike explains how compliance tools can drive smarter commercial decisions.
5. Challenges of Change: The biggest barriers to tech adoption in a fragmented, global industry.
6. Berlin Meets Maritime: The unique energy of Germany’s startup scene and how it’s influencing maritime innovation.
7. Partnerships that Matter: How relationships—with customers, class societies, and fellow startups—are key to creating traction.

Learn More:
→ For another look at decarbonization, check out Episode 91: Navigating Global Marine Lubricants and Decarbonization with David Price, CEO of Gulf Marine

→ For a big-picture look at how digitalization and decarbonization intersect, listen to Episode 94 – Maritime Tech Year in Review with Evan Efstathiou

Tune in Now: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more! Watch the episode on YouTube.

Music by: Peg and The Rejected 'King of SKA'
Art Work By: GA Design
Produced by: Chris Aversano

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📢 Special Mention: The Last Dinosaur is proud to be a media sponsor of London International Shipping Week 2025.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to The Last Dinosaur. I'm your host, Chris Aversano.

(00:05):
Today, I'm joined by Friederike Hesse, Co-founder of zero44.
We’ll explore FuelEU Maritime regulations and how pooling works.
Friederike explains why contracts and cost-sharing are vital.
And we touch on Berlin’s startup scene and digital solutions for compliance.
Let’s dive into the episode.