- Major shipowner associations representing about 25% of global tonnage have urged IMO members to adopt the Net-Zero Framework at next week’s meeting.
- The framework aims to enforce global emission-reduction mandates and promote investment in greener marine fuels.
- Several large shipowners and class societies, including DNV and ABS, have criticized the plan for overlooking proven transition technologies.
- Despite divided opinions, industry experts expect the IMO’s decarbonization efforts to advance, with stricter climate measures likely to follow.
A coalition of major shipowner associations, representing nearly a quarter of the world’s tonnage, has voiced strong support for the International Maritime Organization’s upcoming Net-Zero Framework. The group, which includes associations from Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK, Norway, and Denmark, has urged IMO member states to adopt the framework at next week’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in London. The initiative aims to establish firm global measures for emission reduction and encourage the use of cleaner marine fuels, according to a report by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
While several shipowner associations have endorsed the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework, others have voiced strong opposition, citing practical and economic concerns. Prominent shipping companies—including Angelicoussis Group, Bahri, Frontline, and Stolt Tankers—argued that the framework does not adequately support proven transition technologies and could push operators toward “pay-to-emit” practices. Class societies such as DNV and ABS also raised concerns, with their leaders questioning the framework’s feasibility and calling for revisions to ensure a more structured and achievable plan. Despite the dissent, experts like UCL’s Professor Tristan Smith believe this opposition is not unexpected and that regulatory progress will continue, as climate measures are unlikely to diminish even if the framework faces delays.
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Source: lloydslist
