GREEK shipowners have called for firm requirements to be imposed on fuel providers, among other stakeholders, as the shipping industry seeks to decarbonise.

The Union of Greek Shipowners, the world’s largest national shipowner association, said that it was firmly committed to decarbonisation.

It underlined — not for the first time — “the importance of committing all the relevant out-of-sector stakeholders to this challenging undertaking. 

“Effective mandatory measures for the other stakeholders, such as fuel producers and suppliers, are also necessary,” it said in a statement.

The UGS was joining a majority of other front-rank shipping bodies in giving a nuanced welcome to an outline deal among EU institutions on passing shipping into the bloc’s Emissions Trading System.

“We view several aspects of this provisional agreement positively, notwithstanding the fact that the EU ETS is a regional measure,” said UGS president Melina Travlos.

The provisional deal struck in Brussels “reflects to a significant extent” the positions espoused by the European shipping industry, of which Greek owners account for a massive share of the capacity.

In particular, the agreement applies the “polluter pays” principle in holding a vessel’s commercial operator response for the cost of compliance and earmarks part of the revenues generated for decarbonising the sector.

Both measures have been consistently supported by Greek owners since at least April last year.

However, regional rulebooks for the industry remain a sore point and the UGS had one eye on an upcoming new round of discussions on industry decarbonisation at the International Maritime Organization.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting is due to start next week and the UGS urged member states to “take the opportunity” to reach agreement.

The UGS strongly supports an International Chamber of Shipping submission for a measure based on a contribution per ton of carbon dioxide emitted by the global fleet, as well as an ICS submission on revising the agreed decarbonisation targets.

“We very much look forward to the IMO taking firm decisions that will achieve truly environmental benefits,” Ms Travlos said.

She also warned that more work is needed before the industry can be satisfied that it has been included in the ETS in an appropriate manner.

“Many important parameters of its application remain to be determined and vigilance is needed to ensure that they are suitable for the sector,” she said.

https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1143264/Greek-shipowners-call-for-regulations-to-be-applied-to-fuel-sector