The British Ports Association are closely watching the developments at the IMO, as the MEPC 74 is taking place. The Association commented that it applauds IMO’s actions to tackle climate change on a global scale and also the UK’s ambitions to move towards zero emission shipping as part of this.
However, the Association expressed its concerns that IMO’s is shifted towards ports and unproven short-term measures and away from the real prize.
Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive of the British Ports Association, commented
The IMO has set robust greenhouse gas emissions targets in an effort to avoid catastrophic climate change and it is important that these targets are now met with decisive action. Shipping remains by far the most efficient way to move freight around the planet and supports growth in our offshore renewable energy generation. Ports and shipping are very much part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. In the UK, shipping can help take less efficient trucks off our roads, easing congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. At a global level, tackling air emissions in a meaningful, long term manner ultimately will require cleaner fuels and significant barriers remain to realising these goals.
He continued that a GHG reduction target, aiming to avoid climate change.
In the UK, shipping can help take less efficient trucks off our roads, easing congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. At a global level, tackling air emissions in a meaningful, long term manner ultimately will require cleaner fuels and significant barriers remain to realising these goals.
He highlighted that ports and shipping are part of the solution and not the problem
Moreover, concerning the mandatory speed limits, the Chief Executive addressed that slow steaming plays an important role and has already contributed in reducing shipping emissions. Access to ports for certain vessels is often dependent on factors such as the weather and tides, and mandatory speed limits could make it more difficult for vessels and ports to plan calls.
Chief Executive proceeded to proposals on port actions, in supports of IMO’s targets:
- Ports should remain the jurisdiction of nation states who know best how their ports can support the transition.
Concluding, the UK has an ambitious 30 year strategy to support this and overly-prescriptive proposals at the IMO are not helpful.