Business

T&E: UN shipping body fails to implement its own greenhouse gas reduction plan

Hopes for bold action to reduce the global shipping sector’s huge greenhouse gas emissions were dashed when a ‘business as usual’ draft text was approved.

Published

6 years ago

October 27, 2020

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Hopes for bold action to reduce the global shipping sector’s huge greenhouse gas emissions were dashed this week when a ‘business as usual’ draft text was approved, said clean transport campaigner European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) on Friday (23 October).

In pursuing the outcome, many countries have actively worked to undermine the Initial Strategy goals of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and have knowingly broken their Paris Agreement commitment to pursue a 1.5/2ºC compatible emissions reduction.

The impact of the decision at the IMO Intersessional working Group on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships will not cap, let alone reduce, shipping emissions with this decade, notes T&E.

The draft text will now be forwarded to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), scheduled for 16-20 November, where Parties are expected to adopt the recommendations from the working group.

“We urge all countries to reconsider their support for the J/5 decision ahead of MEPC75 this November 16-20, and reject it, unless it can be fundamentally strengthened,” said John Maggs, president of the Clean Shipping Coalition, which has observer status at the talks.

Faig Abbasov, shipping programme director at Transport & Environment, said: “Governments have ridden roughshod over the Paris Agreement by agreeing a measure that will see ship emissions grow for decades to come. The UN maritime agency again showed the world it can only deliver cosmetic changes. EU countries should work through the European Green Deal to fill the gap left by the IMO.”

The J/5 proposal waters down the already weak compromise proposal that the meeting started with on 20 October in three important ways:

No carbon intensity target, and a weakened Energy Efficiency of Existing Ships Index (EEXI): The proposal still contains no carbon intensity target, and somehow, reduces the stringency of the required EEXI for many ship types. (The EEXI requires ships to reduce their engine power to make them more efficient.) This means the proposal would, at best, now curb GHG by only 0.65% to 1.3% by 2030 compared to business as usual pathway without IMO regulation. Business-as-usual pathway is +15% above the industry’s 2008 baseline.
Loopholes: non-compliant ships will be able to continue underperforming for three consecutive years before they even have to file a plan to make improvements, and can easily game underperformance indefinitely by ensuring one compliant year every three years.
No actual enforcement: All clauses that would create consequences for non-compliance – such as increased EEXI stringency or ultimately revoking a ship’s statement of compliance – have been removed.

According to T&E, the weaknesses of the “J/5” text violate the initial IMO GHG Strategy in three key ways. It will fail to reduce emissions before 2023, will not peak emissions as soon as possible, and will not set ship CO2 emissions on a pathway consistent with the Paris Agreement goals.

“We cannot tell the public that progress is being made when their representatives come to IMO just to thwart CO2 regulation on the industry to protect short-term profits, rather than protecting their own citizens from the escalating impacts of the climate crisis,” it said in a statement.

“The UNFCCC, in good faith, asked the IMO in 1997 to address the issue of GHG emission from the global shipping sector. Let down by the IMO, the Paris Agreement also mandated countries to address shipping at the national and regional levels as part of their economy-wide national climate plans. All states must now look at this option in a more favourable light.”

Photo credit: International Maritime Organisation
Published: 28 October, 2020

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Final general meetings scheduled for Dromond Shipping, related firms

A member is entitled to attend the meetings and should notify the liquidators’ team office via email no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

The final general meetings of Dromond Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies have been scheduled to take place on 19 October, according to the company’s liquidator on a notice posted on Friday (18 September) on the Government Gazette.

The other companies are Tidewater Emergency Response Services Pte Ltd, Tidewater Production Solutions Pte Ltd and Tidewater Salvage Pte Ltd.

The final general meetings of the members of the companies will be held via electronic means on 19 October 2026 at 2.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm (Singapore time), respectively.

The meetings are being held for the purpose of having accounts laid before the members showing the manner in which the winding up of the respective companies has been conducted and how the property of the respective companies has been disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The details of the liquidator is as follows:

Tan Kim Han
Joint and Several Liquidators
137 Amoy Street, #02-03, Far East Square
Singapore 049965

Note: A member is entitled to attend the above meeting and should notify the Liquidators’ team office via email to [email protected] or [email protected] no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

24 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026