Ahead of the key global event that will decide the pace of shipping’s
decarbonization, Vincent Clerc, CEO of Danish shipping and logistics giant A.P.
Moller – Maersk, has highlighted three
imperatives that will be crucial if the maritime industry wants to meet
ambitious emission reduction targets.
According to Maersk CEO, the success of these efforts hinges on three
imperatives:
1.
We
need to close the price gap between green and fossil fuels –
right now with a financial mechanism effectively levelling out the price
difference between green and fossil fuels and rewarding the right fuel choices.
2.
We
need to ensure a well-to-wake approach that is science-based
and results in genuine emission reductions. Otherwise, we will merely be moving
emissions around from one sector to another.
3.
We
need to ensure this green transition is just and supports developing
countries. A number of these countries, provided that investments and
funding is geared in their direction could become the world’s new green
bunkering hubs.
“Maersk fully supports the Green
Balance Mechanism proposed by the World Shipping Council which addresses all
three points. We optimistically look forward to meaningful MEPC discussions
next week, with the ambitious result of an IMO member state agreement that
truly charts a net zero course for the maritime industry,” Clerc
concluded.
This proposal will be brought
to the table during negotiations at the IMO MEPC 81.
Maersk CEO, together with chief executive officers of the world’s
leading shipping companies, recently issued a joint declaration at COP 28
calling for an end date for fossil-only powered newbuilds and urging the UN
global maritime regulator to create the regulatory conditions to accelerate the
transition to green fuels. Their joint
declaration, signed last year, calls for establishing four regulatory
‘cornerstones’.
Apart from cutting GHG emissions from ships, the upcoming MEPC 81 will
also address the energy efficiency of ships; tackling marine litter; the
adoption of amendments on reporting procedures for lost containers /
recommendations on carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers;
Ballast Water Management Convention implementation; proposals for Emission
Control Areas; the implementation of the Hong Kong Convention on ship
recycling ; marine diesel engine replacing a steam system; and the underwater
noise reduction.