Bimco on maritime emissions - and cost
Accoding to Sadan Kaptanoglu, president of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (Bimco), current low-emission technologies require market-based measures (MBM) that equalise costs to be able to compete with traditional fuels on equal terms.
Bimco wants to foster discussions between states and the maritime sector on how to create a set of global rules for such MBMs. It also emphasises that these must be governed by global rules, especially if they are to be applied at the regional level, as the European Commission has announced.
"It is essential that the maritime sector is not obliged to pay several times for its carbon emissions," Bimco says. An MBM can be described as "a rule or legal framework that encourages desired behaviour through financial incentives."
In this case, the shipping industry should be encouraged to use low-carbon or zero-emission fuels to limit CO2 emissions. Kaptanoglu adds that the International Maritime Organisation is a good platform for this debate, "but it is essential that it begins now." (cd)