Leading players in the maritime industry have submitted a proposal to IMO to form a collaborative shipping R&D programme to help eliminate CO2 emissions from international shipping
This comes in light of the EU’s plans to extend carbon trading in shipping.
The proposals are:
The International Chamber of Shipping said meeting the goals set will require deploying new zero-carbon technologies and propulsion systems, ‘green’ hydrogen and ammonia, fuel cells, batteries and synthetic fuels produced from renewable energy sources.
As none of these exist in a commercially viable form or scale, establishing an International Maritime Research and Development Board (IMRB) is vital.
This would be a non-governmental R&D organisation overseen by IMO member states.
Shipping companies will operate a mandatory pay-in system to finance the IMRB. A levy of US$2 per tonne of marine fuel purchased for consumption would generate about US$5Bn in core funding over a decade.
This could be launched by 2023 via amendments to the existing IMO Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol).
International Chamber of Shipping chairman Esben Poulsson said meeting IMO targets means increasing innovation. “Innovation is therefore vital if we are to develop the technologies that will power the fourth propulsion revolution. This proposal is simple, accountable and deliverable and we hope governments will support this bold move.”
International Chamber of Shipping deputy secretary general Simon Bennett said “Even using conservative estimates for trade growth, a 50% total cut in CO2 by 2050 can only be achieved by improving carbon efficiency of the world fleet by around 90%. This will only be possible if a large proportion of the fleet is using commercially viable zero-carbon fuels. In practice, if the 50% target is achieved, with a large proportion of the fleet using zero-carbon fuels by 2050, the entire world fleet would also be using these fuels very shortly after, making 100% decarbonisation possible – which is the industry’s goal.
The shipping industry’s proposal will be discussed by governments in London at the next meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee in March 2020.
The following associations making this proposal, represent over 90% of the world merchant fleet:
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