THE INTERNATIONAL Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has issued a response to the International Maritime Organization’s decision on greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures.
Last week saw the Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 83rd session (MEPC 83) held in London, a five-day meeting which saw the IMO achieve “another important step” towards establishing a legally binding framework to reduce GHG emissions from ships globally, aiming for net-zero emissions by or around 2050.
INTERCARGO has criticised the move, saying the agreement on a medium-term GHG reduction measure differs from the levy-based approach that itself and industry partners “have advocated for many years”.
Kostas Gkonis, INTERCARGO secretary general, commented “INTERCARGO is concerned about the complexity of the measure taken forward by IMO, disregarding calls for a simple, practical and therefore predictable, enforceable, and effective approach”.
“Despite these challenges, our Association remains committed to supporting the IMO process and its implementation.
“We will make every effort to help the industry progress toward the fair and practical transition required for international shipping and the dry bulk sector.”
The association said it will continue providing constructive input to the IMO as the work progresses, aligned with the IMO’s ambition to achieve decarbonisation goals for international shipping as the global regulator.
INTERCARGO asserted its view that the shipping industry needs global solutions that are “transparent and simple to administer, especially for the small and medium-sized companies that form its backbone, rather than fragmented regional measures”.
The association did still welcome the progress made by IMO member states in reaching a decision at MEPC 83.
“As the voice of the dry bulk shipping sector—the largest by number of vessels and deadweight tonnage, with bulk carriers serving as the backbone of international tramp shipping—INTERCARGO remains committed to supporting the IMO’s efforts toward a just and effective energy transition,” the association said.
The IMO net-zero Framework will combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector, and is claimed to be the first to do so.
The measures approved at MEPC 83 include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.
The measures are set to be formally adopted in October this year before entry into force in 2027, and will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships over 5000 gross tonnage, which emit 85% of the total CO2 emissions from international shipping.
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