ICS welcomed the launch of Mission Innovation’s ‘Mission for Shipping’, which aims to enable 5% of the global deep-sea fleet to run on zero-emission fuels by 2030.
The ‘Mission for Shipping’ aims to support public-private cooperation and the increase in R&D expenditure that will be needed for oceangoing ships to transition to zero-carbon fuels and propulsion systems, at the pace required for the industry to decarbonise completely, in line with the goals of the Paris agreement on climate change.
The ‘Mission for Shipping’ provides important and timely recognition of the urgent and critical need to accelerate R&D of zero-carbon technologies from both public and private sector, which will be vital to achieve the ambitious CO2 reduction targets which have already been agreed for the global shipping sector at the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO)
said ICS.
ICS also believes that the 5 billion USD ‘IMO Maritime Research Fund’ is the “ideal vehicle for this public private partnership, which is advocated by a broad coalition of governments with the full support of the global shipping industry.”
ICS now looks forward to working with Mission Innovation member states in supporting the IMRF proposal when it is discussed at the upcoming critical meeting at the IMO of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (10-17 June).
With the support of Mission Innovation governments, the IMO Maritime Research Fund can be in place by 2023, funded solely by R&D contributions from ship operators. This will come at no financial cost to governments whilst complementing and supporting their own efforts towards the goal of decarbonisation.
Guy Platten, ICS’s Secretary General, commented:
The IMRF will make it possible to provide at least 50 per cent of the funding towards a specific government supported R&D project – potentially far more for smaller projects or if the project is undertaken by a developing country. This would contribute much needed R&D funding in line with the announcements made today by Mission Innovation governments. But this requires the support of these same governments at the critical IMO meeting next week