IMO agrees mandatory CO2 cut measures for new ships

[Kristinn A. Aspelund]

These are busy times, so I've been not been as active posting here as I would have liked. I've been following up on the dialog at IMO and I find this one of the most important actions the international community is starting to take in our business. What is your thought on the subject?

"(Reuters) - The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed on Friday on energy efficiency design standards for new ships to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but developing countries will probably delay implementation by using a waiver, delegates said.

Forty-eight countries voted in favor of adopting a mandatory energy efficiency design index (EEDI) for new ships at a meeting of the IMO's marine environment protection committee in London on Friday, while five were against and 12 abstained, delegates told Reuters.

Delegates said the regulation would likely enter into force in 2013.

In full: Reuters"

[Malte Freund]

Moreover, beside the EEDI the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) has been made mandatory as Regulation 22 within the same Annex of Marpol VI. The SEEMP can be used as a strong weapon against inefficient vessel operation, if properly used. Here, all the measures for energy efficient operation can be implemented and their application documented. This may lead to a rethinking of common practices towards an increasing awareness for energy efficiency, which may be seen as the first but very important step towards increase of efficiency and therefore reduction of fuel consumption and emissions.