Representatives from the shipping industry met the previous week to discuss on priorities of the global shipowners’ association, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). Although the meeting was overshadowed by the attacks against two oil tankers in Gulf of Oman, the participants discussed of IMO 2020 regulations and CO2 reduction.
Specifically, ICS agreed on actions in support of the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy to decarbonize international shipping in line with the United Nations 1.5 degree climate change goal.
Speaking from the Faroe Islands, ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson commented
It is imperative that IMO Member States adopt a new global regulation to mandate further short term CO2 reduction measures at the next session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee in 2020. This should deliver further CO2 reductions by 2023 to help us meet the IMO target set for 2030… We do not wish to limit proper consideration of other ideas such as speed reduction or the use of new CO2 reduction technologies.
He continued that the core of the proposal is that global shipping companies will present that they do everything they can to reduce fuel consumption, strictly enforced via flag state audits of Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans.
In addition, the ICS AGM confirmed that it is important for the industry to conduct research and development of zero-carbon fuels and propulsion systems, crucial to achieve the ambitious IMO target of cutting shipping’s total GHG emissions by 50% by 2050 regardless of maritime trade growth, and continuing to work with other industry stakeholders to explore how R&D can best be rapidly accelerated.
Also, during the meeting, the ICS members highlighted their support in favour of sulphur cap 2020.
As Mr Poulsson added
Our meeting welcomed the decision of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee last week, at which ICS led shipowner representation, to adopt an MSC Resolution addressing safety and fuel quality issues associated with the sulphur cap.
The MSC resolution means that bunker suppliers will be encouraged by maritime administrations to provide only low sulphur fuels that meet the latest ISO Standard, i.e. ISO 8217:2017 plus the ISO Publicly Available Specification (PAS 23263) which is currently still under development.
In conclusion, Mr Poulsson noted that it is crucial for those interested, as governments, ISo, oil producers and bunker suppliers, to make more efforts to ensure safe and compatible fuels will be available in every port worldwide.
ICS remains concerned about continuing delays with the publication of the latest ISO Publicly Available Specification for low sulphur fuels, and related quality and safety issues where control depends on these standards being quickly finalised and distributed, given that the industry is only six months away from full global implementation.
