51 Maritime Players Issue Joint Call for IMO Action on Shipping Emissions

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday October 21, 2016

A group of 51 maritime players Thursday issued a call to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to act on shipping emissions at the 70th meeting of its Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) next week.

The joint call for action was issued through an open letter signed by the group members, encouraging IMO member states to set clearly defined long-term objectives, create an "even playing field," and implement ambitious actions toward low-carbon solutions.

"By signing this letter we want to emphasize our commitment and encourage all maritime players to join forces to fight climate change," said Roger Holm, President Marine Solutions at Wärtsilä.

The letter's signatories say they support a discussion at MEPC for the establishment of the shipping industry's fair share of the global responsibility to address climate change.

"The recent agreement on the Global Data Collection System and past agreement on energy efficiency design standards demonstrate that the diverse interests at IMO can find common ground on complex and contentious issues," stated the joint letter.

"However, even with existing standards and current market forces, shipping's emissions are expected to substantially increase over the coming years. To curb this trajectory, IMO member countries must demonstrate that they can match the ambition and pace of UNFCCC."

The Danish Shipowners' Association, Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association, Maersk, Scandlines, J. Lauritzen, and Unifeeder were all among the companies to sign the letter.

"We are reaching the point where it will be more and more challenging to drive significant CO2 reductions on our own," said John Kornerup Bang, Chief Advisor Climate Change, Maersk.

"Global regulation is therefore needed, more than ever, and it is crucial that IMO moves beyond data collection and establishes an ambitious and accelerated process to determine shipping's 'fair share' of emissions, which will allow for subsequent definitions of long term targets and market based mechanisms."

The letter is the latest in a number of calls for IMO action issued by various organisations ahead of MEPC 70, set to get underway next week.

The full list of signatories is as follows:

Shipowners and operators

  • Cargill
  • Hamburg Bulk Carriers
  • Hammonia Reederei
  • Maersk
  • Nordic Tankers
  • Scandlines
  • Unifeeder
  • J. Lauritzen
  • Torvald Klaveness
  • U-Ming Marine
  • Reederei Nord

Service Providers

  • C. A. Goudey & Associates New Ocean Solutions
  • Clean Marine Energy
  • GAC
  • Marcura
  • Mariko
  • Ocean Freight Exchange
  • RightShip
  • Robin Meech – Marine & Energy Consulting
  • Shipamax
  • Titan LNG
  • Vanmarc Shipping Limited Company
  • Wartsila

Technology Providers

  • AkzoNobel
  • Danelec Marine
  • NAPA
  • EpicGas
  • Norsepower
  • GoodFuels
  • Eco Marine Power
  • Magnuss

Industry Associations

  • BICEPS Network
  • Global Shippers Forum
  • Danish Shipowners Association
  • Danish Maritime
  • Royal Belgian Shipowners Association
  • International Windship Association
  • Smart Green Shipping Alliance
  • NCE Maritime Clean Tech
  • OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports Secretariat

NGOs

  • Rocky Mountain Institute-Carbon War Room
  • Clean Shipping Index
  • Green Marine
  • North Sea Foundation
  • Sustainable Shipping Initiative
  • The Ocean Foundation
  • Peace Boat

Others

  • Nor-Shipping
  • Polar Star Films
  • Port Metro Vancouver
  • Port of Prince Rupert

Ship & Bunker News Team
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