No decisive progress has been made in the definition of the global strategy to decarbonise the shipping on the occasion of the Intersessional Working meeting Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which has been held this week in London. However, the organization International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) considers that progress has been made and that this is the case with the bodes well for a positive outcome of the next meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) scheduled from 7 to 11 April. This does not detract from the fact that, according to ICS, before that meeting further rapid steps forward.

"While the ICS is broadly satisfied with the progress on a decisive new package of global regulations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including a mechanism Greenhouse Gas Emissions Pricing - ha explained today the Secretary General of the ICS, Guy Platten - remains Still a lot of work to be done urgently. However, despite the differences on many issues - he specified - is encouraging that the negotiations are continuing in a positive and cooperative". Platten said he was confident that in the IMO Member States can reach the next six weeks an agreement to approve those that the shipping industry considers that these are essential amendments to the MARPOL Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships in order to enable an effective decarbonisation strategy for the sector.

If significant steps have not been taken this week forward for a final agreement on a universal tax on greenhouse gas emissions from ships, which - according to the industry shipping - represents the crucial mechanism for the decarbonisation of the sector, however, the ICS considers encouraging that around three-quarters of IMO States support the contribution supported by more than 50 governments as well as the ICS (information of 9 January and 14 February 2025). Even if - highlighted the association shipowners - "The concerns raised by a minority including China and Brazil, need to be addressed in a simple and pragmatic way to create a global consensus".

For the ICS, another significant positive result is the broad consensus expressed by governments for the establishment of a IMO Fund for the Decarbonisation of Maritime Transport, proposed which has been repeatedly put forward by the same International Chamber of Shipping.. "It was also generally agreed - noted the ICS - that this IMO Fund, which is expected to generate billions of dollars a year from taxes for greenhouse gas emissions from ships, should be used to Provide financial rewards to First Movers and ships that use zero-emission or near-zero fuels, such as methanol green energy, biomethane, green ammonia and sustainable biofuels. These incentives - the association noted - are fundamental to reduce the cost gap with marine fuels and promote the production and use of new fuels".

Furthermore, the ICS considers it positive that, if they are still unresolved Important details about the proposed intensity standard of greenhouse gas emissions from fuels, is still on the table the proposal put forward by the ICS itself to introduce a greenhouse gas surcharge to be applied to ships that are not in compliance with the rules due to barriers to fuel availability. "We found a - explained the ICS in this regard - by the developing countries for this simpler and more transparent with respect to an excessively complex system that Requires ships to exchange compliance units with unpredictable and volatile prices". For the ICS, "a Another key issue for shipowners is whether it will be shared compliance with other airlines navigation due to the expected limited availability of compliant naval fuels'.