By L. Karageorgos  
[email protected]
 
The shipping industry is satisfied with recent decision taken by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which are aimed at reducing “greenhouse gas” emissions, according to European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) Panos Lascaridis.

In an interview to “N”, Mr. Lascaridis  also underlined that ECSA is actively working with other international shipping organizations, and always within the framework of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), in order to implement these decisions.

As an industry,  we will not deal with the views expressed by certain countries, which do not go along with the basic IMO decision. Panos Lascaridis President, European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA)

He pointed to the holding of a seminar on the specific issue, in cooperation with the European Commission, in order to discuss and scrutinize the historic IMO decision on emission reduction. The latter, among others, foresees the further improvement  of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for newly constructed vessels; a reduction in C02 emissions per transport, by at least 40 percent until 2030, with efforts to continue for a 70-percent reduction by 2050, compared to 2008. Another target is for a reduction in “greenhouse gas” emissions by 50-percent until 2050, compared to 2008, in tandem with efforts for the gradual but complete elimination of such emissions, as described in the Paris climate agreement.

Lascaridis adds: 
“As we all know, the IMO has been given a deadline in 2023 to prepare for a comprehensive and binding plan to reduce C02 emissions generated by ships. The shipping industry is satisfied with this development. That is why practically all shipping-related bodies, after this decision was announced, praised it. At long last, the IMO took an ambitious decision, but in an organized manner and with a plan.

“As an industry, we will not deal with the views expressed by certain countries, which do not go along with the basic IMO decision. We do note, however, another risk, one that emanates primarily from a segment of European lawmakers and so-called ‘environmentalists’, who oppose the plan because they consider that it is not as radical as they want.

“Allow me to remind you, of course, that the European Parliament, the EU Commission and the EU’s Council of Ministers last November agreed to give the IMO a breather until 2023 to present its program for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the shipping industry. The IMO, with its decisions, has taken advantage of this development. As a result, there’s really no reason now to express opposition to this decision.

“As far as ECSA is concerned, we will host a seminar on June 5 in Brussels, where all sides will be able to express their views on the IMO decision. Besides ship owners, the Commission, and the EP, other interested parties will be represented. We believe that an in-depth analysis of the IMO decision, which will be the aim of the seminar, will prove very useful.
“The ECSA initiative aims to underline the fact that there is an international decision on how to manage emissions, and that previous positions and viewpoints are now a moot point.”

According to Lascaridis, the next steps in relation to implementation of the IMO decision is for all sides to express their positions over technical measures that must be taken within specific timeframes, as well as expected results.

“This will be a wide-ranging and substantive discussion, and with technical aspects under scrutiny. The entire industry will participate in this discussion, via the ICS.

In concluding, the ECSA president said the essential point is that shipping, in light of the IMO decision, has entered a new era.

“Differences and opposing views will continue to exist, because some people will favor a more ambitious agenda; others are less ambitious, but all together we have embarked on a new path, one that we must follow.”

Asked if other parties involved in the shipping sector, such as registries, shipbuilders etc, can contribute to this discussion, Lascaridis said the entire industry is based on the scientific competence of its engineers and shipbuilders. Shipping companies’ technical advisers are the shipbuilders. They offer their professional opinion on every technical issue dealing with a vessel. There are also other entities, such as engine builders, the shipping yards, bunkering fuel providers etc. All of these parties, who have enormous scientific knowledge and experience, have views on how the shipping industry must proceed in the future towards a better environmental result.

If you are an engineering officer, for instance, the shipping industry wants your opinion in your professional capacity. We want to reach out to the scientific community, to hear what it has to say.

Will there be sufficient quantities of reduced sulfur fuel in 2020 or not? This is what we want to know. Isn’t this reasonable?

“Let me just add something. Political pressure towards taking certain decisions is one thing, but it is quite another when deciding if something is scientifically possible or not. As the crucial point, the scientific community must decide on whether this is feasible or not.”

Finally, Lascaridis said ECSA is always open to dialogue with European institutions and the Commission, adding that his organization is cooperating with the Commission without, of course, undermining the position of European shipping.

“We should also recognize that European shipping is a strategic advantage for Europe, amid global competition. Shipping is probably the only sector in which Europe enjoys global dominance, and this should be understood. If you see the world map without European vessels, it’s like a deserted island, bare. If you put the little flags up representing European vessels, then you see a planet, like a living organism. We should absolutely understand this.”