THE World Shipping Council and its members have proposed for a Vessel Efficiency System (VES) to improve the carbon and fuel efficiency of the world’s fleets.
The proposal has been made to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its member governments in an aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by shipping vessels around the world.
The proposal is for the IMO to apply vessel efficiency design standards for both new and existing vessels in the world’s fleet. Newly built vessels would be subject to mandatory efficiency standards requiring new ships to be built with energy efficient features and technologies.
Under the VES proposal, existing vessels that meet the established efficiency standards would operate free of any fees. Existing vessels that fail to meet the standards would be subject to a fee assessed for each ton of fuel consumed.
“The World Shipping Council and its members hope that the Vessel Efficiency System proposal will help the IMO develop a specific regulatory regime that would ensure improved efficiency across the world’s maritime fleet and reduce CO2 emissions,” World Shipping Council president and CEO, Chris Koch says.
“Such action will demonstrate the continued leadership of IMO and the maritime industry in forging progressive solutions that will protect the environment and provide an effective global response to this global issue."
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