Ahead of the next meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84), international shipping associations have reaffirmed their support for the IMO as the globally responsible regulatory body.
In a joint statement, Bimco, Clia, ICS, Intercargo, Interferry, Intertanko and the World Shipping Council (WSC) call on the IMO member states to agree on a further course to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
The MEPC 84 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will take place from 27 April to 1 May at the IMO headquarters in London.
The background to this is the postponement of the adoption of new IMO regulations on greenhouse gas emissions in October 2025. According to the joint statement, the associations believe it is now crucial that the member states find a viable way forward in the discussions.
The organizations emphasize that the industry is committed to the goals of the IMO’s 2023 strategy to reduce emissions from ships and has already invested billions in alternative fuels and new technologies.
At the same time, the various and powerful industry associations warn against the coexistence of different regional and national decarbonization systems. Such models could lead to ships being charged multiple times for the same emissions. Instead, the organizations advocate practicable and effective IMO rules with uniform application worldwide.
In the view of the associations, the ongoing work on life cycle analyses of fuels and certification systems must first create the necessary technical basis for new measures. Decisions should be data-based and fuel and technology-neutral. Both the availability and safety of alternative energy sources should be taken into account.
Associations underline the importance of transition fuels
In their statement, the organizations also explicitly refer to the importance of transitional fuels such as LNG, LPG and sustainable biofuel blends. They also mention other options such as e-fuels, biomethanol, biomethane, sustainable bioethanol and ammonia. Technologies such as wind propulsion, battery storage, shore power, nuclear energy and on-boardCO2 capture are also listed as possible contributions to reducing emissions.
In the view of the associations, the IMO must above all create regulatory certainty with its specifications. This is urgently needed in the shipping industry in order to facilitate investments and at the same time encourage producers to develop the supply of alternative energy sources more quickly. The organizations are also calling for practicable enforcement of new rules to ensure that the targeted reduction in emissions is actually achieved and fair competition is maintained.
Finally, the signatories point out that the decarbonization of shipping cannot be achieved by shipowners alone. It is a task that can only be solved by all players along the entire value chain working together.
