Published: June 2, 2023 |

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The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has submitted detailed well-thought through proposals to the next round of International Maritime Organization (IMO) negotiations. These support the development of a global fuel standard as a technical measure to reduce the GHG intensity of marine fuels, targeting 5 percent by 2030 and with an aggressive tightening of this standard after 2030, developed with industry experts to ensure the standard will work in practice.

“A fuel standard will not succeed on its own. It has to be supported by a radical economic measure, which will operate across the world to incentivize the production and uptake of the low and zero GHG fuels necessary to accelerate transition to a net zero destination,” said Simon Bennett, ICS Deputy Secretary General.

“Shipping remains the most carbon efficient way to transport the goods that we all use, with about 90 percent of world trade carried by sea. However, being efficient does not mean we must not work to address the 3 percent shipping contributes to global carbon emissions. We all have a role to play in decarbonization,” added Bennett.

ICS, and its members, are optimistic that governments will set a net zero target which sends a signal to energy producers and marine fuel suppliers, charting the direction of travel. ICS argues however that far more critical are the decisions that governments must now urgently take about the measures which will enable the end destination.

“Shipowners are willing to pay into a multi-billion dollar global fund, which if structured correctly, will reduce the cost gap between conventional fuel oil and the much more expensive zero GHG fuels as they begin to become available. The ICS fund and reward mechanism is an equitable measure that will also ensure developing countries can use some of the billions of dollars that would be generated each year, from shipowner contributions, to create the infrastructure of the future while incentivizing first movers to act,” said Bennett.

“A growing number of governments recognize the merit of these industry proposals, but we need to ensure that those developing nations that are still concerned about the impact on their economies, of the small cost additional to marine fuel, can recognize the opportunity that this IMO fund will unlock,” added Bennett.

“To produce the very large amounts of low and zero GHG fuels, such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, sustainable biofuels and synthetic fuels (as well as developing new technologies such as carbon capture) is going to take real world regulation and meaningful incentives, not just the adoption of a new GHG reduction target. Setting a direction of travel is important, but without the tools to get there it becomes meaningless aspiration,” concluded Bennett.

Governments have an opportunity this July to come together and chart a clear unambiguous course to a net zero future.

International Chamber of Shipping is the global trade association for shipowners and operators, representing the world’s national shipowner associations and over 80 percent of the world merchant fleet. ICS has members from around 40 countries. Their membership comprises national shipowners’ associations, through which structure ICS uniquely and legitimately speaks for and represents the significant majority of international shipping. Their national member associations represent shipping companies from all sectors of the shipowner community. These include dry bulk carriers, oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, container ships, general cargo ships, offshore support vessels, and passenger ships.

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