- Shipping companies, cargo owners, NGOs and industry bodies call for a level playing field and practical solutions from the IMO’s mid-term GHG reduction measures.
- The agenda is to work to refine GHG reduction strategies, including fuel intensity requirements and a GHG pricing mechanism, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
The 82nd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82) began on 30 September, with IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, addressing key issues impacting international shipping, reports Bunkerspot.
Opening the session, he raised immediate concerns about the increasing number of attacks on ships in the Red Sea, highlighting the recent assault on an oil tanker and calling for swift action to protect vessels and their crews. ‘These unacceptable acts not only endanger human lives but also pose a significant environmental threat,’ the Secretary-General stated.
Working to refine GHG reduction strategies
The session’s primary focus was on the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, a critical part of the mid-term measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. ‘I urge you to concentrate on our key objectives,’ the Secretary-General stated, encouraging compromise and collaboration to ensure progress. ‘The most relevant point is that we should focus on finding solutions that should enable us to move forward together. It is important to remember that we all share the same goals here at IMO.’
A significant agenda item is the ongoing work to refine GHG reduction strategies, including fuel intensity requirements and a GHG pricing mechanism, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
In addition to GHG measures, the review of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulations is a focal point. These regulations have improved data transparency and cooperation across the maritime sector, encouraging greater climate action. ‘I urge you all to further improve these measures to ensure they drive energy efficiency,’ he added.
The issue of marine plastic litter was also discussed, with the committee set to review the IMO Action Plan on Marine Plastic Litter and adopt new guidelines on plastic pellet cleanup from ship-source releases.
With the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling set to enter into force next year, the Secretary-General also called for unified action to ensure that it remains the only applicable instrument governing ship recycling. ‘I count on your commitment to eliminate international uncertainty and prevent the implementation of regional regulations that are not fit for global application,’ he urged.
MEPC 82 will run until October 4, with key decisions expected on GHG reduction measures and other pressing environmental issues impacting the maritime industry.
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Source: Bunkerspot
