The global shipping industry has called on the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) to accept its proposal for an industry-financed US$5-billion research and development programme to catalyse the transformation of the industry from dependence on fossil fuels to operating with zero-carbon energy sources.
The idea is that the programme would be overseen by the IMO and financed through a required contribution of US$2 per tonne of marine fuel consumed. It would be managed through a non-governmental research and development organisation – an International Maritime Research and Development Board or IMRB.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) points out that for the proposal to work, the contributions need to be compulsory via an IMO regulation to ensure that all shipping companies globally contribute in a fair and equitable manner, and that the necessary funds will be generated to achieve the programme’s objectives.
Although total emissions from shipping are about 7% lower than in 2008, there is a limit to what can be achieved as long as ships remain dependent on fossil fuels and global demand for maritime services continues to grow, the ICS points out.
“The carbon reductions required by the IMO target of reducing total emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 will only come from identifying and developing new zero-carbon technologies so that commercially viable zero-carbon ships can begin to operate in the 2030s,” according to a statement released by the organisation.
While there are several potential solutions, such as hydrogen or ammonia produced from renewable energy sources, these do not yet exist on a scale or in a form that can be applied to large ocean-going ships. “A host of complex technical questions remain to be answered, including safety, storage, distribution, energy density considerations and lifecycle impacts. In short, we do not yet know what the fuels of the future will be.”
A number of governments are understood to be positive about the proposal, subject to addressing issues like governance.