Decarbonisation Technology - February 2022 Issue

Progressing decarbonisation discussions at the IMO IMO plans to incorporate short, mid- and long-termmeasures in its GHG reduction strategy by 2023, including certification for low and zero carbonmarine fuels

Eddy Van Bouwel EvBo Consult

A t COP26 there was quite a bit of discussion on GHG emissions from international shipping. Demand for shipping has increased substantially since the turn of the century, leading to concerns of ever increasing emissions in the absence of ambitious regulations (see Figure 1 ) (Jasper Faber, 2020). However, emissions from international shipping – like international aviation – are not covered by the Paris Agreement and are thus not included in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) developed by the Parties to the Paris Agreement. Emissions from international shipping are regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations body, headquartered in London, which currently has 175 member countries. GHG emissions are dealt

with under Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention (The International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from ships). Boxout 1 provides some further details on IMO conventions. What has been done already? MARPOL Annex VI already includes several instruments that regulate energy efficiency of shipping, put in place specifically with the objective to limit GHG emissions. As a first step, in 2011, a dedicated chapter was added to Annex VI with mandatory technical and operational energy efficiency measures. The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) requirements entered into force in January 2013. The EEDI has been most impactful, as it requires

IMO2

IMO3

IMO4

140

UNCTAD Seaborne trade (tnm) EEOI (g CO/tnm) UNCTAD Seaborne trade (t)

AER (g CO/dwtnm) COe emissions (t)

120

2008 EEOI

100

1990

1995

2000

2010

2015

2020

2005

Figure 1 International shipping emissions and trade metrics, indexed in 2008 EEOI = Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator, AER = Annual Efficiency Ratio in gram CO 2 /Dwt/nm Source: 4th IMO GHG Study, Jasper Faber, 2020