Last Friday’s events at the IMO need not presage a delay in the creation of a coherent decarbonisation policy.
They simply provide an opportunity to involve those at the epicentre of the maritime world, the shipping community.
So far, they have only had side seats at this crucial time.
We must include them closely to create a workable policy which selects all available low carbon and zero carbon fuels and all technologies on the way towards 2050. Furthermore, fuels that are to be mandated, explicitly or implicitly, to achieve decarbonisation must be both available and safe.
The non availability of many of the transitional fuels does not help the shipping industry move forward.
There must be a realisation that different sectors of the industry, such as tramp and liner shipping, have different paths to achieve their goals. The regulations must reflect this.
There needs to be certainty and accountability in respect of funds that are to be collected. Furthermore, if there were actual funds specifically ring fenced for the necessary maritime research and development to take place, it might be possible to achieve real solutions before it is too late.
Global shipping companies, which are represented in all major sectors of the shipping industry and which will in fact be the ones implementing the decarbonisation policy, must be closely consulted if a workable pathway to net zero is to be achieved.
G.S.C.C.
Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee
