The Global Shippers Forum (GSF) has welcomed progress by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 66) to start analysing appropriate data collection methods for measures to enhance the energy efficiency of ships.
GSF has stated that the decision effectively endorses the wider need for monitoring of maritime emissions, including subsequent recording and verification of emissions to make progress at an international level on reducing maritime emissions.
Chris Welsh, Secretary General of the Global Shippers' Forum, said:
"This is clearly only the beginning of a process, but it is an important first step towards agreeing a methodology for reducing maritime greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions. GSF welcomes the fact that the IMO has established a correspondence group tasked with discussing and recommending the core elements which could form the basis of an appropriate data collection system."
The correspondence group will review submissions from IMO member states' representatives and industry on what data should be collected to consider what further work is needed for establishing the appropriate metrics for monitoring maritime emissions.
Mr Welsh added:
"Its clear that member states' listened carefully to concerns that any collection system should be simple, pragmatic and easy to use taking into account the different and varied nature of shipping sectors and operations. GSF believes that this approach is exactly right, as account should be taken of the costs involved in collecting data and that the right data is collected for fuel monitoring purposes."
Shippers' are increasingly calling for accurate data on maritime greenhouse gas emissions to measure, evaluate and report their supply chain carbon footprint to reduce supply chain carbon emissions meet their commitments under the ghg protocol.
The GSF annual meeting that took place in March 2014 in Los Angeles supported in principle the approach for measuring, reporting and verification of maritime emissions as a way of reducing emissions in the maritime supply chain. GSF believes IMO has demonstrated the necessary leadership needed to make progress on this important issue at an international level.
The EU MRV has provided impetus for an international approach to monitoring of ghg. The European Commission has indicated it would amend the proposed EU MRV to reflect any agreement reached at an international level.
Welsh concluded:
"GSF is pleased at this approach as it believes that a single global system for monitoring reporting and verification has clear benefits for ship owners and shippers."