Singapore Voices Support for IMO as Secretary-General Sets Sights on Environment for MEPC 69

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim stressed the importance of IMO leadership on shipping emissions reductions in his opening address at MEPC 69.

As the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) Marine Environment Protection Committee 69th session (MEPC 69) meets this week, Andrew Tan, CEO of the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said that the organisation will continue to support the IMO in its work toward improving energy-efficiency within the shipping industry.

"As an IMO Council member that takes its role seriously, Singapore is committed to supporting and partnering the IMO as it continues to develop its framework of technical and operational measures to improve energy-efficiency in shipping," Tan told IHS Fairplay.

In an opening address at MEPC 69 Monday, IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, stressed the importance that the IMO "clearly demonstrate" that it is the appropriate organisation to regulate international shipping emissions, adding that he views promotion of sustainable shipping "as one of the major priorities" of his tenure.

Further, Lim stated that the COP 21 agreement that was reached in Paris in December - which left out mention of shipping - shows a "clear imperative" for the development of the shipping industry to become "truly sustainable."

Several groups have been recently urging the IMO to address shipping emissions and other environmental regulations, such as the possible implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.

"Installing and operating BWMS comes at a price and shipowners are understandably concerned about incurring such costs, especially in the current difficult economic climate. Also, new technologies need time to mature, which has caused many owners to stand back and wait," said Lim.

However, Lim added that such challenges "should not stop us from implementing the convention and I would strongly encourage member states to cooperate and establish meaningful measures, which would ease the burden for the shipping industry."

MEPC 69 runs from April 18 to 22, and is said to include 121 agenda items, such as the implementation of the BWM Convention and consideration of a proposed work plan to set out shipping's contribution to global emission reduction efforts.

On Friday, BIMCO announced that its priority items for the meeting include the approval of a mandatory data collection system for bunkers, and for the concerns related to the implementation of the BWM Convention to be addressed.