The draft draft on the possible framework of measures to be taken for the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions produced by the Shipping agreed last week during the eighty-first meeting of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), held in London, could lead to the introduction of an additional fifth chapter Annex VI to MARPOL, the Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships. As agreed last week by IMO Member States, the New chapter would include a standard on marine fuels target-based in order to adjust the gradual reduction of the greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels and one or more economic mechanisms to incentivise the transition towards net-zero emissions. The draft project outcome of the MEPC meeting will be used as a to approve the various proposals in a possible common structure, in order to support subsequent resolutions.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) expressed its satisfaction with the outcome of the MECP meeting: "We welcome the "Please," commented the International Shipowners' Association in a note - the progress made during these intensive negotiations to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions from the maritime transport and the support received from around 60 Member States a system of flat-rate contributions per tonne of gas greenhouse. The purpose of the proposed system, which has been advanced by the International Chamber of Shipping ( of 6 September 2021, ed.), is to reduce the gap and incentivise the accelerated adoption of marine green fuels, as well as providing billions of dollars for support the greenhouse gas reduction efforts of shipping Developing countries. We have acquired a better understanding of the concerns of Those governments that still have questions about the "feebate" mechanism proposed. The ICS will seek to address these concerns with all governments ahead of the next round of IMO negotiations in September, to help ensure that the regulatory framework can be adopted next year, for its global implementation by 2027."

Commenting on the outcome of the MEPC meeting, World Shipping Council (WSC), the international association representing the container shipping sector, highlighted that the Green Balance Mechanism, the WSC's proposal to bridge the gap between the Price gap between fossil and green fuels presented last week at MEPC ( of 9 February 2024), "has been very well received positively. The constructive inputs received both in the meetings intersessional and MEPC - explained the association - are valuable for the further development of the mechanism'. 'A financial measure, or a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism - specified the WSC - must close the price gap between fossil fuels and green fuels to enable their use by part of the global fleet and encourage investment in the production of green fuels. The production facilities of renewable fuels, the association stressed, will be built by energy suppliers only if there is a clear demand for green fuels, and the simple reduction of the of the price difference will not be enough to create a viable market'.

Other items on the agenda included last week MEPC approved the establishment of two new control areas Emissions Control (ECA) in Canadian Arctic waters for oxides nitrogen, sulphur oxides and particulate matter, and in the Sea of Norway for nitric oxide and sulphur oxides. The Institution of the two new ECA areas, which will be submitted for adoption to the next MEPC meeting scheduled from 30 September to 4 September next October, had been requested, among others, by Clean Arctic Alliance ( of 19 March 2024): 'the creation of these two new areas of emission control - stressed Sian Prior, consultant Head of the Clean Arctic Alliance, having learned of the outcome of the meeting of the MEPC - will set an important precedent for the protection of of our climate and our ocean, and in particular the Arctic. We hope that the designation of ECAs in Arctic waters Canadian and Norwegian Sea leads to a broad change in the the reduction of climate pollutants from transport maritime sector, especially if the maritime transport sector will comply with the designation by switching to fuels distillates with a low sulphur content or other non-sulphur fuels cleaner fossils."