On February 4, 2019, the European Commission adopted a proposal to
revise the EU system for monitoring, reporting and verification (EU MRV) of CO2 emissions
from maritime transport.
revise the EU system for monitoring, reporting and verification (EU MRV) of CO2 emissions
from maritime transport.
The system will be revised in order for the EU to take “appropriate
account” of the global data collection system for fuel consumption of
ships established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
account” of the global data collection system for fuel consumption of
ships established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Specifically, the proposal aims to facilitate the harmonious
implementation of the two systems while preserving the objectives of the
current EU legislation.
implementation of the two systems while preserving the objectives of the
current EU legislation.
By streamlining some aspects of the two MRV systems
such as specific definitions or monitoring parameters, the proposal aims at reducing
the administrative burden and associated costs for ships having to report under
both systems, as explained by the European Commission.
such as specific definitions or monitoring parameters, the proposal aims at reducing
the administrative burden and associated costs for ships having to report under
both systems, as explained by the European Commission.
Publishing data about the emissions of all ships calling at EU ports
will incentivize shipping companies to cut their CO2 while also better
informing regulations to reduce emissions, the NGO Transport & Environment
(T&E) believes.
will incentivize shipping companies to cut their CO2 while also better
informing regulations to reduce emissions, the NGO Transport & Environment
(T&E) believes.
By harmonizing its MRV system with the IMO’s system, the EU should still
require ships registered outside the EU to report their data.
require ships registered outside the EU to report their data.
In the case of publishing data on all ships, shipping customers would be
able to identify the most efficient vessels, make fuel savings and reduce CO2
emissions, according to the NGO.
able to identify the most efficient vessels, make fuel savings and reduce CO2
emissions, according to the NGO.
What is more, the transparency of the EU system, unlike the IMO’s data
collection system (DCS), would prevent dirty ships to pass themselves off as
efficient.
collection system (DCS), would prevent dirty ships to pass themselves off as
efficient.
The commission’s proposal also maintains other key elements of the EU’s MRV, such as
reporting data showing ships’ air pollution in ports.
reporting data showing ships’ air pollution in ports.
“Shippers need to be able to identify the most efficient ships to cut
their fuel costs and climate impact. The EU’s system provides this high quality
data which will also influence the ambition and the effectiveness of climate
measures in the shipping sector. Without accurate data collection, the
reduction measures won’t be worth the paper they are written on,” Faig
Abbasov, Shipping Officer at Transport & Environment, commented.
their fuel costs and climate impact. The EU’s system provides this high quality
data which will also influence the ambition and the effectiveness of climate
measures in the shipping sector. Without accurate data collection, the
reduction measures won’t be worth the paper they are written on,” Faig
Abbasov, Shipping Officer at Transport & Environment, commented.
However, the commission yielded to pressure to remove the obligation on
ships to collect and report cargo data – essential for analyzing the real-world
performance of ships. The IMO system exempts shipping companies from collecting
data about their cargo.
ships to collect and report cargo data – essential for analyzing the real-world
performance of ships. The IMO system exempts shipping companies from collecting
data about their cargo.
“Despite the positive decisions on flag neutrality and transparency, it
is regrettable that the commission caved in to pressure to remove the
collection of cargo data within the EU. Without cargo data, the market would
not be able to differentiate an empty ship from an efficient one and thus there
would be little incentive to improve ships’ efficiency, lower emissions and
reduce transport costs,” Abbasov explained.
is regrettable that the commission caved in to pressure to remove the
collection of cargo data within the EU. Without cargo data, the market would
not be able to differentiate an empty ship from an efficient one and thus there
would be little incentive to improve ships’ efficiency, lower emissions and
reduce transport costs,” Abbasov explained.
Shipping emits 3% of global CO2 and would be the sixth biggest emitter
after Japan if it were a country. EU-related shipping is responsible for about
one-fifth of global emissions.
after Japan if it were a country. EU-related shipping is responsible for about
one-fifth of global emissions.
In 2018, the IMO agreed a goal to
reduce shipping emissions by at least 50% by 2050, and the IMO and EU systems
are supposed to provide detailed data for policymakers to set regulatory
measures that will reduce maritime greenhouse gas emissions.
reduce shipping emissions by at least 50% by 2050, and the IMO and EU systems
are supposed to provide detailed data for policymakers to set regulatory
measures that will reduce maritime greenhouse gas emissions.
World Maritime News
