Connect with us

Environment

ICS urges countries to compromise over CO2 reduction strategy

‘Or risk having no IMO CO2 strategy at all,’ says Chairman, Esben Poulsson.
Admin

Published

8 years ago

on

5aba07c48646c 1522141124

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) recommends governments to compromise their mutual expectations on a strategy to reduce carbon dioxide from shipping, ahead of a critical International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting on 3 April, “or risk having no IMO CO2 strategy at all.”

“Governments on all sides of the debate are going to need to show far more willingness to compromise on their current positions or put at risk an agreement on a meaningful strategy,” says ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson.  

“This would greatly undermine the authority of IMO and the future sustainability of the shipping industry.

“Agreement upon a mid-century objective for the total reduction of CO2 emissions by the sector, regardless of trade growth, will be vital to discourage unilateral action and to provide the signal needed to stimulate the development of zero CO2 fuels.”

“But the very high level of ambition proposed by certain EU Member States – a 70 to 100% total cut in emissions before 2050 – is unlikely to achieve consensus support.” 

Poulsson remarked: “While ICS does not fully agree with them in every respect, alternative proposals made by China and Japan merit serious consideration and could form the basis of a possible compromise.  

“China in particular seems to have made a real effort to move away from its previous opposition to establishing CO2 reduction goals for the sector’s total emissions.  If EU nations want a global agreement they should acknowledge this by similarly modifying their own positions.”   

Meanwhile, ICS suggests that if IMO was to set an initial objective of cutting the sector’s total CO2 emissions by, for example, 50%, rather than 70 to 100%, this would still require a major improvement in ship efficiency over ‘business as usual’. 

When account is taken of the anticipated growth in maritime trade, ICS says this will still only be possible with the widespread use of zero CO2 fuels.

“A mid-century objective similar to that proposed by Japan – which might also enjoy support from nations like China if EU nations were willing to compromise – would still provide a compelling signal to the industry,” says Poulsson.

“This should also be sufficient to stimulate the development of zero CO2 fuels leading to a 100% CO2 reduction in line with the ambitious vision which IMO must agree.”

ICS and other industry associations have previously proposed the need for an ambitious vision in the IMO strategy, making it clear that the ultimate goal is the elimination of all CO2 emissions from international shipping (i.e. 100% reduction) sometime between 2050 and 2100, or as soon as the worldwide availability of zero CO2 fuels makes this possible.

In advance of zero CO2 fuels becoming available globally, the industry has also proposed that IMO should adopt the following objectives: 

  • Objective 1 – to maintain international shipping’s annual total CO2 emissions below 2008 levels;
  • Objective 2 – to reduce CO2 emissions per tonne-km, as an average across international shipping, by at least 50% by 2050, compared to 2008; and
  • Objective 3 – reduce international shipping's total annual CO2 emissions by an agreed percentage by 2050, compared to 2008, as a point on a continuing trajectory of CO2 emissions reduction.

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 27 March, 2018
 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

LNG Bunkering

MOL and Seaspan sign annual LNG bunkering deal for car carriers in Port of Vancouver

MOL says North America is one of the key trade lanes for car carriers, and with recent delivery of new LNG-fuelled vessels, securing a stable LNG fuel supply in the area has become increasingly important.
Admin

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

MOL and Seaspan sign annual LNG bunkering deal for car carriers in Port of Vancouver

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) on Thursday  (21 May) announced that MOL and Seaspan Energy have signed the first annual contract for LNG bunkering for car carriers at the Port of Vancouver, Canada. 

On 29 April, MOL completed the first LNG bunkering under this contract. Since completing the first LNG bunkering on the West Coast of North America on 1 March 2025 – the first by a Japanese shipping company – MOL has conducted several additional LNG bunkering operations in the region. 

North America is one of the key trade lanes for car carriers, and with the recent delivery of new LNG-fuelled vessels, securing a stable LNG fuel supply in the area has become increasingly important. This contract underscores the company’s commitment to establishing a stable and seamless regional LNG fuel procurement framework.

Seaspan expanded its LNG bunkering capabilities in 2026 from Vancouver to Long Beach, California, and continues to proactively support the growth of a clean marine supply chain.

Seaspan Energy President Harly Penner, said: “The relationship between Seaspan Energy and MOL is highly valued. MOL was the first car carrier operator to receive LNG bunkering services in the Port of Vancouver, and we are proud to continue supporting their operations in Vancouver through this annual LNG bunkering agreement. 

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing lower-emission marine transportation and supporting the industry’s transition toward net-zero GHG emissions.”

Marine Fuel GX Division General Manager Daisuke Fujihashi, said: “We are very pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Seaspan Energy through this contract for LNG fuel procurement. 

“Looking ahead, we will continue to deepen our collaboration with Seaspan Energy in the field of clean fuels, including bio LNG, and remain committed to offering our customers more pathways toward cleaner supply chains.”

 

Photo credit: MOL
Published: 22 May, 2026

Continue Reading

Ammonia

MMMCZCS: MAGPIE Project confirms operational feasibility of ammonia bunkering

MAGPIE consortium completed a successful ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering simulation in Rotterdam on 12 April, proving that ammonia can be bunkered safely within an operating port.
Admin

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

MMMCZCS: MAGPIE Project confirms operational feasibility of ammonia bunkering

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) on Thursday (21 May) said a new demonstration project in the Port of Rotterdam showed that ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering can be carried out safely within an active port environment. 

The demonstration is part of the EU-funded MAGPIE (sMArt Green Ports as Integrated Efficient multimodal hubs) project, and the report is now available, providing concrete learnings that industry can use to guide future ammonia bunkering and accelerate global port permitting.

The shipping sector must transition away from fossil fuels to meet climate targets. Ammonia is considered a promising alternative fuel, but its specific hazards pose significant safety, operational, and regulatory challenges. Without competent operators, fit-for-purpose equipment and robust safety and regulatory frameworks, ammonia bunkering cannot take place safely in ports.

Within the MAGPIE project, a full-scale simulation of a ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering operation was conducted in the Port of Rotterdam on 12 April 2025. The demonstration showed that ammonia bunkering within port limits is operationally feasible when carefully planned and executed within a robust safety and regulatory framework.

The learnings from the demonstration have now been consolidated by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and project partners in a comprehensive ammonia bunkering demonstration report. This publication provides the industry with practical lessons and a validated port safety framework and tools that other ports can use as a blueprint for ammonia bunkering.

A key outcome of the project is the validation of the Port of Rotterdam’s port safety framework for ammonia as a fuel, as well as the International Association of Ports and Harbours’ (IAPH) Port Readiness Tool. The results demonstrate that these frameworks are fit-for-purpose instruments for ports considering the introduction of new alternative fuels.

“The project delivers practical learnings, validation sheets and recommendations that can be used by ports globally to build confidence in ammonia bunkering and to inform future port permitting and regulatory processes. The results support the EU’s ambition for green ports and the safe deployment of alternative fuels in the maritime sector,” said Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.

“The energy transition requires new, integrated value chains. This ammonia bunker pilot is an important step in developing a complete value chain for alternative fuels, from import to application in shipping. Together with our partners, we demonstrate that innovation, safety, and scalability can go hand in hand. Rotterdam plays a connecting role as an energy and logistics hub for Northwest Europe,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO, Port of Rotterdam.

The learnings from MAGPIE contribute to a broader effort to accelerate sustainable, smart and multimodal port systems and results will be shared with the wider industry to support the global transition of the shipping sector.

Note: The report titled ‘Ammonia Bunkering Demonstration Report’ can be found here. 

 

Photo credit: Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
Published: 22 May, 2026

Continue Reading

Environment

OliOil selects Elomatic as partner for autonomous oil spill response container design

A unique feature of the solution is that the container can be placed on both oil-carrying vessels and in ports, enabling rapid response capability.
Admin

Published

3 weeks ago

on

May 15, 2026

By

OliOil selects Elomatic as partner for autonomous oil spill response container design

Finnish startup OliOil recently said it is developing an oil spill response container that enables advanced prevention of oil spread immediately after an incident occurs. 

Elomatic will design the system to meet performance and operational reliability requirements under challenging conditions.

The collaboration between Elomatic and OliOil focuses on developing the oil spill response container technology from pilot phase toward industrial manufacturing. 

In the preliminary design phase, the aim is to create a concept for a functional system where containerized boats deploy autonomously during an oil spill, using AI and robotics to position containment booms.

OliOil’s oil spill response container was created from a LUT University research project focused on Baltic Sea protection. 

What makes the solution advanced is that the container can be placed on both oil-carrying vessels and in ports, enabling rapid response capability. Boom deployment is the critical first step in any spill response, preventing the oil’s spread and enabling efficient oil recovery with specialized collection equipment.

Elomatic’s scope covers container design, boat hoisting systems, electrification, and ventilation. The team is also defining the boats’ technical specifications and designing their propulsion systems.

“Elomatic’s expertise in both industry and marine technology is valuable. It’s also important to us that Elomatic has experience in commercializing innovations in addition to engineering expertise,” said Kristian Laiho, Chair of the Board at OliOil.

“It’s great to work with a company bringing new solutions to environmental challenges. Utilizing our broad expertise in OliOil’s product development and commercialization is meaningful to us,” said Karoliina Joensuu, Head of Industry Business Unit at Elomatic.

 

Photo credit: OliOil
Published: 15 May, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending