Top of the agenda were the preparations for the implementation of IMO2020.
With less than four months to go until the introduction of the new limits on sulfur emissions from shipping, there is still significant uncertainty about the worldwide supply of permissible fuels and concern about the safety and compatibility of fuel options, the associations warned.
The group called on all parties, including charterers, bunker suppliers and nation states, to double their efforts to ensure a smooth transition. The associations also re-iterated the urgent need for fuel standards to be put in place ahead of 1st January, 2020.
Dimitris Fafalios, INTERCARGO head, who chaired the meeting, said: “The industry has been working hard to ensure that we are ready for 1st January, 2020 but we still have major concerns over safety and availability of compliant fuels. We need all parties to fully play their part, it would not be acceptable to have even one ship drifting powerless at the mercy of the ocean. Shipping is a highly integrated and an ef?cient industry and we rely on many stakeholders in the value chain, particularly fuel suppliers and oil refiners to ensure we are all able to benefit from the long-term health benefits that this will bring.”
The meeting also re-emphasised the industry’s support of the IMO’s strategy to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050. It was acknowledged that there are ‘no one size fits all’ solutions and also acknowledged that there will be different solutions in different sectors. However, Round Table members were clear that solutions would be found.
Reflecting the mood of the meeting, Fafalios concluded: “The shipping industry has already made great strides in emissions reduction in the last 10 years by reducing emissions by 10%, whilst facilitating a 30% increase in global trade, but we recognise that there is more to be done to deliver on the 2050 goal. The industry is committed to work with all concerned stakeholders to move shipping closer to a zero emissions future. There is much work still to do but we are clear that the shipping industry recognises the importance of meeting these objectives.”