The latest IMO climate committee summit was the first meeting at which the public had access to documents and proposals from member states. But this transparency is not obligatory, and the press still has only limited access.
Top shippers Nike, Adidas and other footwear majors call on President Donald Trump to reconsider his announced tariffs, warning that such a move would be "catastrophic".
The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee postponed discussions for short-term solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Maersk, Danish Shipping and an NGO are disappointed, while the International Chamber of Shipping praises IMO momentum.
A Greek cruise line has been fined close to NOK 1 million for violating the sulfur cap in Norway, says the country's maritime authority, describing the fine as historically large.
Residue from scrubbers are be included on Singapore's official list of toxic industrial waste, warns the MPA. This means that shipping companies must pay to get rid of residue in the major port.
The world's largest container shipping line, Maersk, is not "satisfied with the lack of progress" in the IMO regarding CO2 emission reductions, the company's head of sustainability strategy tells ShippingWatch.
The member states in IMO's environmental committee postpones making a decision on how to lower short-term emissions. But the committee agrees to expedite requirements for ship design.
The IMO's climate committee plans for a work group to pick out some of the many proposals for initiatives which can lower the shipping industry's greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. This is criticized by association of NGOs.
After a postponement last year, in which the EU member states were accused of scoring an "own goal", many signs now indicate that the IMO delegates will reach agreement on tighter requirements for ships' design.
The key tradelanes between China and the US could be hit by significant decreases if both countries act on their threats of new and large-scale tariffs. Alphaliner estimates that volumes could drop by eight percent in 2019.
Three major shipowners' associations issue a joint warning against the impact of the US-China trade dispute. The statement comes on the heels of China saying it will raise tariffs on US-made goods.
It is imperative that the IMO shows the organization is capable of finding ways of reducing shipping's emission of CO2 in the short term, says the secretary general in his opening speech at MEPC, calling for the industry to double its efforts in order to prepare for 2020.
China announces it will introduce tariffs on US goods from June 1 this year. This happens after the US increased its tariffs on Chinese goods last week.
In addition to the points written on the printed agenda, meetings held in the corridors at IMO's London headquarters also play a large part when it comes to decision-making in the MEPC. This week, ShippingWatch is looking into the formal and informal agendas for this week's MEPC meeting.
China yet to retaliate against the US after Trump decided to raise tariffs on Chinese goods last week.
Clean Shipping Alliance 2020 has received no-objection letters from more than 20 ports indicating that they will not introduce bans on open-loop scrubbers.
When delegates attend the IMO's MEPC 74 next week, they will have a dilemma on their hands: What is a shipowner to do next year if a scrubber breaks down and the vessel only has high-sulfur fuel on board?
A new study from a German think tank points to savings as well as environmental benefits from a speed limit for ships. The study has been shared with IMO member states ahead of next week's meeting in London.
While the IMO is really starting to discuss CO2 reductions, the European Commission has just highlighted speed limits as a very effective means to achieve that in a report. Lower speed would however require significantly more vessels. Read the entire report here.
When the global sulfur regulations are introduced in January 2020, it will have a large positive effect on public health, especially in Asia, say several of the researchers who recently presented the first results of the new sulfur caps in the Baltic and North Seas.
Many signs indicate that the upcoming IMO meeting will be a duel between two solutions for how to achieve the short-term CO2 targets for shipping. Several stakeholders have brought a speed limit into play, but several major shipping nations take an opposing view.
Star Bulk, Navios and Safebulkers along with 107 other shipping companies support a proposal to implement speed limits on vessels to lower the industry's CO2 emissions in the short term, they write in an open letter ahead of an IMO meeting to be held in a few weeks.
Technical Superintendent(s) - Dania Ship Management
