The World Shipping Council presents six proposals for a fair decarbonisation of maritime transport

Summarizing the proposal, the WSC highlighted that the transition of world maritime transport from a dependence on carbon on an activity that does not produce gases at the greenhouse effect represents a difficult change to make and the shipping companies transporting containers and rolling stock, represented by the association, are already investing in the development of technologies with zero greenhouse gas emissions and are fully committed to ensuring that this transition has success. However - underlined the World Shipping Council - regulations are needed for this to happen clear globals.

The association has also highlighted that it will be a complex process that should be ensured both by one multi-technological development that gives a multi-participatory approach and guided and supported by a set of strengthening global standards in turn. "Line transport - explained the president and managing director of the WSC, John Butler - includes the common responsibility for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the maritime sector and we do not underestimate the challenge. We are committed to decarbonize shipping and we have several ideas and projects in building site. However, in order to make these investments, to run the necessary risks, we, and all other maritime actors, have need for a regulatory framework that addresses policy issues key. Now - butler specified by presenting the proposals of the WSC - we offer our perspective on the critical steps that the IMO should consider as you face this challenge global'.

The first proposal of the World Shipping Concil is the setting a global price for carbon emissions combined with reliable and far-reaching buy-down programs creating a level playing field between new low- and zero-duty ships greenhouse gas emissions and the tens of thousands of ships that they will continue to burn conventional fuels. This - has taken over the association - will play an important role in the allow companies to put zero ships into service greenhouse gas emissions and manage them competitively.

Then, according to the WSC, a transparent analysis would be necessary of the entire life cycle of fuels, subdividing the emissions between indirect (well-to-tank) and direct emissions (tank-to-wake), combined with regulatory mechanisms to incentivize first mover to the use of alternative fuels that offer significant reductions in greenhouse gases even if initially not available from fully renewable sources.

The third proposal of the association provides for a development integrated of the worldwide production and distribution of fuels naval zero greenhouse gas emissions through partnerships between IMO Member States and energy suppliers, as well as regulatory provisions introducing flexibility in the initial stages of the energy transition, given that - observed the WSC - fuels with zero greenhouse gas emissions do not will be available worldwide at the same time.

So the WSC proposes the establishment of Green Corridors in order to accelerating a just transition in both fuels and to technologies, initially introducing ships and fuels to zero greenhouse gas emissions on those trade routes where they will be the necessary infrastructure is already available on the ground Energy. This - according to the WSC - will accelerate the develop best practices and encourage IMO States and other stakeholders interested in focusing on government-to-government initiatives government and on coordinated investments between public and private for build the production facilities and infrastructure of necessary procurement.

Fifth proposal calls for standards for construction naval that support the energy transition, such as - explained the WSC - require ships built after a certain date of being able to operate with zero-emission fuels of greenhouse gases or not to allow after a certain date the construction of ships that can only operate on fossil fuels.

The latest proposal highlights the need for research applied and the development of on-board and trackside systems that allow the safe use of zero-emission fuels of greenhouse gases so that zero emissions ships can be put into operation. For the WSC, a significant increase is therefore needed of efforts and investments in research and development in order to develop technologies suitable for the use of fuels alternatives on board ships.