EMEA News
Greek Union of Shipowners Supports IMO Action on Global Shipping Emissions
Theodoros Veniamis, president of the Greek Union of Shipowners (EEE), at the group's recent general assembly, stressed that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the appropriate global institution to promote and implement actions intended to reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions from ships, Greek media reports.
Veniamis' comments came in response to a European Parliament (EP) Environment Committee decision in December to include shipping emissions in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2023 if the IMO does not have a comparable system operating for global shipping from 2021.
"We're continuing efforts to change opinions, in close cooperation with European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and other friendly shipping unions, given that we've succeeded in persuading our North European members to back positions by international shipping interests that are friendlier for the sector."
As Ship & Bunker has reported, in comments echoed by both ECSA and the Danish Shipowners' Association, ICS said an EU decision to implement their own system for dealing with shipping emissions will "polarise and impede" current discussions on further CO2 reduction measures.
In January, Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary-General, issued a letter to European Union (EU) officials, urging them to address shipping emissions as a united front with IMO, noting that its proposed regional action "significantly risks undermining efforts on a global level."
