Tag: UNCC

The global shipping industry, which transports around 90% of world trade, only produced about 2.2% of the world's total Green House Gas emissions during 2012 compared to 2.8% in 2007. Shipping's total emissions have reduced by more than 10% during the same period. In advance of the United Nations Climate Conference in Lima (1-12 December), the global trade association for ship operators - the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) - says that the industry is on track to reduce its emissions by more than 20% by 2020 (compared to 2005) with further reductions going forward. This and other information about the impressive progress which the shipping industry is making to reduce its CO2 emissions is set out in a special brochure prepared for the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference (COP 20). This can be found on the global trade association's website. The shipping industry is the only industrial sector which is already covered by a binding global agreement to reduce its CO2 emissions, through technical and operational measures agreed - with full industry support - by its global regulator, the London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO). ICS explains that the IMO is now developing additional measures to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping ...

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is encouraging the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control to ensure that a harmonised approach to PSC inspections has been developed in advance of the 1 January 2015 deadline with respect to the implementation of the 0.1% Sulphur Emission Control Areas (ECAs), established in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI. ICS has underlined the shipping industry's commitment to full compliance with the IMO sulphur ECA requirements from January 2015. However, ICS is concerned that information collected by its member national ship owners' associations suggests that many governments are not yet prepared to implement the requirements in a uniform manner, in order to ensure the prevention of a potentially serious market distortion. ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe explained: "The shipping industry is investing billions of dollars in order to ensure compliance with this major regulatory change, and the huge costs involved could have a profound impact on the future structure of the entire shipping industry. We therefore think it is vital that governments get the details of any PSC intervention right as we enter a new world in which fuel costs for many ships will increase overnight by 50% or more." He added: "There ...

GAC EnvironHull announced that is now offering its HullWiper underwater hull cleaning service at the UAE port of Sharjah. The HullWiper Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) unmanned underwater hull cleaning unit uses adjustable pressure sea water jets as the cleaning medium rather than brushes or abrasives, resulting in minimal damage to the antifouling surface. Residues and harmful marine growths captured during cleaning are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner instead of being discharged into the sea as done using traditional methods. The green, clean hull cleaning solution was launched in Dubai in November, and expanded operations to Fujairah, UAE, and the Swedish west coast port of Gothenburg in the past two months. The latest port to join the growing HullWiper network, Sharjah, is home to one of the UAE's finest deep water harbours able to accommodate all kinds of vessels and cargoes. Strong investment in port infrastructure has made it a popular alternative to Dubai and other major ports in the region. GAC is already well established at the port, where it offers a wide range of integrated shipping and logistics services for local, regional and international clients. That service portfolio has now been further enhanced with GAC EnvironHull extending the ...

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its latest Annual Review of maritime policy and regulatory developments in advance of its Annual General Meeting. The 2014 Annual Review covers the wide-ranging scope of ICS's activities as the world's principal international trade association for ship operators, and can now be downloaded free of charge from the ICS website (www.ics-shipping.org/docs/annualreview2014). Printed copies are being distributed via ICS's 34 member national shipowners' associations, which collectively represent all sectors and trades and over 80% of the world merchant fleet at international regulatory bodies that impact on shipping, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The 2014 ICS Annual Review focuses on a number of key issues, including: issues relating to the implementation of new IMO requirements for low sulphur fuel in Emissions Control Areas from January 2015; outstanding concerns surrounding the implementation of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention; enforcement of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC); and developments with respect to piracy and hostage taking. In his introduction to the Review, ICS Chairman, Masamichi Morooka, focuses in particular on the need for governments to address questions regarding the implementation of impending environmental regulations: "The shipping industry is about to invest billions of dollars ...

In advance of next week's meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has suggested a number of steps by which IMO Member States might address implementation problems associated with the Ballast Water Management Convention, which has yet to enter into force. As previously highlighted in a submission to the MEPC (made by ICS in conjunction with other international shipowner organisations), the implementation problems which ICS urgently seeks to address include the lack of robustness of the current IMO type-approval process for new treatment equipment, and the criteria to be used for sampling ballast water during Port State Control inspections. ICS believes that the legal changes needed to make the ballast regime fit for purpose are relatively straight forward and could be agreed in principle quickly by IMO Member States. ICS has therefore suggested that the MEPC might agree a ‘road map' using the mechanism of an MEPC Resolution which - if agreed - could make it easier for additional IMO Member States to decide to ratify the Convention. "If so decided, this Resolution would provide greater confidence for owners and operators installing treatment equipment, and could help end the current impasse." said ...

New research will catalyse innovation and ideas to benefit the oil and gas industry for new challenges At the Offshore Technology Conference in Asia, 25 to 28 March, Lloyd's Register Energy will launch a major research programme called Technology & Innovation Radar for the international oil and gas industry. The adoption and development of new technologies is fundamental for the advancement of the oil and gas sector in addressing the global demand for energy and to cope with the environmental challenges in the decades ahead. To help gain a deeper understanding of the market view, Lloyd's Register Energy has invited sector professionals, leading academics and industry bodies to comment on the adoption of key technologies and innovation, the time line for implementation and the impact technological advancements can have upon safety and efficiency. Lloyd's Register Energy is working with an independent research partner to conduct this broad ranging survey to help capture this critical view point of the industry. You can find the survey at www.lr.org/technologyradar Lloyd's Register Energy will publish a management report in June 2014 which will help assess the viability of new technologies, the drive and motivation for innovation, and where key opportunities and challenges exist. The results ...