The new
environmental regulations have been at the center of attention at this year’s
edition of Posidonia trade show in Athens, Greece, which took place from 4-8 of
June.
environmental regulations have been at the center of attention at this year’s
edition of Posidonia trade show in Athens, Greece, which took place from 4-8 of
June.
The upcoming
sulphur cap in 2020 and the initiative to halve shipping industry’s carbon
footprint by 2050 have been in the spotlight together with the immediate
implications of the ballast water management convention.
sulphur cap in 2020 and the initiative to halve shipping industry’s carbon
footprint by 2050 have been in the spotlight together with the immediate
implications of the ballast water management convention.
Despite
being supportive of the overall aim behind the decarbonization drive, the
“tsunami of regulations“ has not been very welcome by the industry due to the
lack of pragmatism in their application and the availability issues with
respect to effective infrastructural solutions to enable the switch to a
cleaner future.
being supportive of the overall aim behind the decarbonization drive, the
“tsunami of regulations“ has not been very welcome by the industry due to the
lack of pragmatism in their application and the availability issues with
respect to effective infrastructural solutions to enable the switch to a
cleaner future.
In
particular, John Platsidakis, Chairman of Intercargo and managing director of
Anangel Maritime Services, believes that the overall burden for reducing
emissions from shipping is being unfairly put on ships and shipowners.
particular, John Platsidakis, Chairman of Intercargo and managing director of
Anangel Maritime Services, believes that the overall burden for reducing
emissions from shipping is being unfairly put on ships and shipowners.
Speaking
during the 6th Analyst and Investor Day within Capital Link’s Shipping Forum, Platsidakis
stressed that such an approach “will take us nowhere“, adding that providers of
assets, i.e., shipyards and engine manufacturers should be pushed to provide
better equipment to owners.
during the 6th Analyst and Investor Day within Capital Link’s Shipping Forum, Platsidakis
stressed that such an approach “will take us nowhere“, adding that providers of
assets, i.e., shipyards and engine manufacturers should be pushed to provide
better equipment to owners.
“As a
result, we have to stand up and raise our voice about the real issue here.
Therefore, we are asking the providers of assets to come up with the adequate
solutions and we will be the first ones to adopt it,” he emphasized.
result, we have to stand up and raise our voice about the real issue here.
Therefore, we are asking the providers of assets to come up with the adequate
solutions and we will be the first ones to adopt it,” he emphasized.
Furthermore,
the very fact that refiners have not committed to make the sufficient amounts
of alternative fuel available by 2020 poses another uncertainty for shipowners.
the very fact that refiners have not committed to make the sufficient amounts
of alternative fuel available by 2020 poses another uncertainty for shipowners.
In addition,
he pointed out that it was “unfair“ and “highly regrettable“ that at the end of
the day the consumers would be paying the price for the implementation of the new
regulations.
he pointed out that it was “unfair“ and “highly regrettable“ that at the end of
the day the consumers would be paying the price for the implementation of the new
regulations.
George
Prokopiu, Chairman of Dynagas LNG Partners, agreed, urging that the new
regulative framework should be a task for manufacturers and shipyard, not
owners.
Prokopiu, Chairman of Dynagas LNG Partners, agreed, urging that the new
regulative framework should be a task for manufacturers and shipyard, not
owners.
Prokopiu
insisted that shipping companies have very little voice in the overall decision
making process about the new rules and that they were standing alone in the
implementation process.
insisted that shipping companies have very little voice in the overall decision
making process about the new rules and that they were standing alone in the
implementation process.
The message
was echoed by Theodore Veniamis, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners,
during the opening ceremony of the event saying that “shipping is often held disproportionately
responsible for meeting environmental standards compared to other industries.”
was echoed by Theodore Veniamis, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners,
during the opening ceremony of the event saying that “shipping is often held disproportionately
responsible for meeting environmental standards compared to other industries.”
“However, as
shipowners, we have no say in the manufacturing of the ships’ engines, nor are
we responsible for the quality of the fuels that we have to use. It is obvious
that, while the links in the chain of responsibility are many, it has so far
proved to be more expedient, at a political level, to solely focus on
shipowners, a choice that is misguided and practically ineffective in the end,” he pointed out.
shipowners, we have no say in the manufacturing of the ships’ engines, nor are
we responsible for the quality of the fuels that we have to use. It is obvious
that, while the links in the chain of responsibility are many, it has so far
proved to be more expedient, at a political level, to solely focus on
shipowners, a choice that is misguided and practically ineffective in the end,” he pointed out.
There is no
silver bullet and the way forward for the industry to become complaint with the
2020 sulphur cap is attainable through three solutions: scrubbers, slow
steaming and low sulphur fuel, Prokopiu said.
silver bullet and the way forward for the industry to become complaint with the
2020 sulphur cap is attainable through three solutions: scrubbers, slow
steaming and low sulphur fuel, Prokopiu said.
Finally,
Platsidakis expressed concern over “what comes
next in terms of regulations“, emphasizing that the industry is not
afraid of new rules as long as they are pragmatic.
Platsidakis expressed concern over “what comes
next in terms of regulations“, emphasizing that the industry is not
afraid of new rules as long as they are pragmatic.
However, he
stressed that a huge issue in the introduction of new regulations was the lack
of proper analysis and understanding of the problem at hand.
stressed that a huge issue in the introduction of new regulations was the lack
of proper analysis and understanding of the problem at hand.
“Regulators,
with all the noble intentions in the world, often don’t know what they are
talking about. Secondly, a lot of the said issues are politically motivated and
promises politically motivated were not realistic,” he said.
with all the noble intentions in the world, often don’t know what they are
talking about. Secondly, a lot of the said issues are politically motivated and
promises politically motivated were not realistic,” he said.
Specifically,
referring to the promise to halve shipping’s emissions by 2050 by upgrading
propellers and ship designs, Platsidakis said that this was not feasible.
referring to the promise to halve shipping’s emissions by 2050 by upgrading
propellers and ship designs, Platsidakis said that this was not feasible.
As
explained, the only way for these reduction targets to be met is to introduce a
carbon free fuel.
explained, the only way for these reduction targets to be met is to introduce a
carbon free fuel.
“With the
existing types of fuel, we will never achieve the promised reductions,” he went on to say.
existing types of fuel, we will never achieve the promised reductions,” he went on to say.
World Maritime News.
