The World Shipping Council (WSC) revealed plans to
propose the creation of an international research and development entity that
would identify a new generation of marine fuels.
propose the creation of an international research and development entity that
would identify a new generation of marine fuels.
As informed, the solution the WSC is developing in an
effort to solve the greenhouse gas (GHG) problem will be proposed soon for
discussion at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in
London.
effort to solve the greenhouse gas (GHG) problem will be proposed soon for
discussion at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in
London.
The new body is seen as the next step in reducing the
harmful emissions from shipping following the entry into force of the IMO 2020
sulphur cap in January 2020.
harmful emissions from shipping following the entry into force of the IMO 2020
sulphur cap in January 2020.
If the IMO adopts the WSC’s approach, the proposed
International Maritime Research Board (IMRB) would be a dedicated-purpose new
entity under the supervision of the IMO, with substantial industry
participation.
International Maritime Research Board (IMRB) would be a dedicated-purpose new
entity under the supervision of the IMO, with substantial industry
participation.
It would be funded by mandatory industry contributions
based on fuel use, which is something that the IMO already tracks, according to
John Buttler, President and CEO of WSC.
based on fuel use, which is something that the IMO already tracks, according to
John Buttler, President and CEO of WSC.
Specifically, the money collected would be used to fund
research that could be carried out by a wide range of entities around the
globe, ranging from research institutions to national laboratories to
independent institutions and companies. In addition to some basic science, the
emphasis would be on evaluating which technologies have the greatest potential
to be commercially feasible for powering long ocean voyages and then doing the
engineering work to get those fuels and technologies to the point whether they
can be commercially viable.
research that could be carried out by a wide range of entities around the
globe, ranging from research institutions to national laboratories to
independent institutions and companies. In addition to some basic science, the
emphasis would be on evaluating which technologies have the greatest potential
to be commercially feasible for powering long ocean voyages and then doing the
engineering work to get those fuels and technologies to the point whether they
can be commercially viable.
“One of the reasons that it is so critical that we
create an institutional structure … is that it is simply not feasible for any
one company or any one country to provide the resources and focus that are
necessary to get the R&D done on a scale and on a schedule that would allow
the industry to meet the IMO’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions for 2050 and
beyond,” Butler said during his speech at the JOC Events Container Trade Europe
Conference in Hamburg on September 19.
create an institutional structure … is that it is simply not feasible for any
one company or any one country to provide the resources and focus that are
necessary to get the R&D done on a scale and on a schedule that would allow
the industry to meet the IMO’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions for 2050 and
beyond,” Butler said during his speech at the JOC Events Container Trade Europe
Conference in Hamburg on September 19.
Even though there are research projects currently
underway on new fuels …, the fact is that we are going to need something bigger
and more sustained to make decarbonization of shipping a reality. We think that
standing up the IMRB to pursue R&D on a global scale is the way to reach
that goal,” he pointed out.
underway on new fuels …, the fact is that we are going to need something bigger
and more sustained to make decarbonization of shipping a reality. We think that
standing up the IMRB to pursue R&D on a global scale is the way to reach
that goal,” he pointed out.
Butler further explained that the IMRB would be
designed “to work itself out of job and out of existence.” The new entity is
aimed at solving the root problem of GHG emissions by finding and deploying new
fuels and not at improving the existing fossil-fuel-based systems.
designed “to work itself out of job and out of existence.” The new entity is
aimed at solving the root problem of GHG emissions by finding and deploying new
fuels and not at improving the existing fossil-fuel-based systems.
World Maritime News
