Top 10% of Most Efficient Ships Indicates How Stringent Requirements Should Be: T&E

T&E says nearly three-quarters of new ships already exceed the IMO's post-2025 energy efficiency requirement. Image Credit: T&E

The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) today said a new study shows that nearly three-quarters of new ships carrying consumer goods already exceed the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) post-2025 energy efficiency requirement, and suggests the efficiency of the 10 percent best ships indicates how stringent the requirements should be.

"This new analysis using official IMO data confirms earlier findings presented to the IMO by environmental groups: the energy efficiency standard is not fit for purpose to drive better designs or technological innovation," said Faig Abbasov, Shipping Officer at T&E.

"Ship owners, represented by the International Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO, have opposed tighter standards as part of efforts to drain all ambition out of IMO discussions on how shipping can decarbonise."

The new study, which was conducted by T&E, found that the best 10 percent of boxship newbuilds are already almost twice as efficient as the requirement for 10 years' time.

The study also found that, in addition to container ships, 69 percent of general cargo ships, 26 percent of new tankers, and 13 percent of gas carriers exceed the EEDI's 2025 requirements 10 years ahead of schedule.

"The EEDI's current efficiency requirements are so weak that there is no incentive for the uptake of currently available innovative technologies, let alone the development of new technologies," said John Maggs, president of the CSC.

"Industry says it can only reduce its climate impact when low carbon technologies are available, but resists policies that will incentivise their development and deployment. You can't have your cake and eat it. Something has to give."

T&E says that the Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) - of which T&E is a member - believes that the performance of the best ships in the fleet would be "a good place to start" when reviewing and updating EEDI requirements.

"Strengthening the EEDI is the lowest of low hanging fruit," said Abbasov.

"If the IMO can't take timely action on this issue because of industry opposition, how can it be expected to deliver an adequate response to the Paris Agreement?"