• 2011 September 1 07:05

    GL exchange forum - report on MEPC's 62nd session

    The subject of Carbon Dioxide dominates the future of many industries today. Whether it be the Shipping, Automotive, Aviation, or Power Generation industries the questions of how to account for, reduce, produce, capture and minimise the impact of Carbon Dioxide generated by that industry is seldom left out of the discussion, MarineLink reported.

    So it was Germanischer Lloyd’s traditional recap of the latest session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of International Maritime Organization (IMO), focused on the groundbreaking developments at the 62nd session.

    The 62nd Session was notable for several reasons, the use of a vote to approve the measures rather than by consensus and the establishment of a North American emissions control area for example. However it was the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) that marked the Session as being of historical significance. Adopted as amendments to Annex VI of the MARPOL Regulations these measures, when they enter into effect, will represent the first global mandatory carbon dioxide reductions implemented by any industry.

    The forum was held on 25 August at GL’s Head Office in Hamburg. More than 100 representatives from the maritime industry, shipping companies, ship management agencies, shipyards, maritime journalists and stakeholders meeting to consider the new measures, hear presentations from GL and industry experts, and discuss the likely impact of this sea change for the industry.

    Although the adoption of the measures and the manner in which it took place was a surprise, it was also not entirely unexpected. GL has been preparing clients for the introduction of both the EEDI and the SEEMP for several years. Torsten Mundt, GL’s Head of Group Environmental Services, Strategic Research and Development looked at the adoption of the EEDI, giving the forum attendees some background on the formula and the way in which it will be implemented over time. New vessels of several types will be required to meet a reference line for energy efficiency he showed, with step wise reductions in the reference line to be reviewed and implemented in the future. Mr. Mundt also looked at the market based measure (MBM) for reducing emissions from the Bahamanian Flag State, which the MEPC invited the Authority to further develop.

    Jörn Springer, Head of Department Operations, looked at the SEEMP; the operational measure to increase fuel efficiency, which will apply to all vessels both newbuild and in operation, from the entry into force of the amendments. Mr Springer highlighted some of the benefits of putting into practice the new system, as part of a management structure built around systematic approach of continual improvement and measurement of gains. He pointed to a recent FutureShip project, which through the analysis of two sister vessels and the implementation of an efficiency plan had resulted in a 9% and 16% reduction in fuel consumption for the vessels.

    BIMCO’s Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, gave his own take on the EEDI and SEEMP from a shipowner’s perspective. Looking at the challenges that would have to be met, especially by ship designers, to ensure that the EEDI fulfilled it’s promise of making a positive change in the industry, he examined some of the parts of the formula where the potential future impact of the regulations on shipbuilding were unclear. The measures had come at a critical time he noted, and due to their nature and implementation as currently formulated were important in maintaining the level playing field in the maritime industry.

2024 July 16

18:02 China extends visa-free transit policy to 37 ports
17:25 Works on schedule for the Ravenna regasifier, with the plant operational in the first quarter of 2025
17:05 STX Heavy Industries changes name to “HD Hyundai Marine Engine”
16:45 OOCL's revenue rises 14pc to US$2.2bln
16:20 Saltchuk acquires all of the outstanding shares of Overseas Shipholding Group
15:57 EU sets four conditions for the port of Piraeus inverstments
15:41 Serbia to open tender for Prahovo port overhaul in 2024
15:37 EIB lends €90 million for sustainable expansion of the Port of Livorno
15:34 Crew of capsized oil tanker off Oman still missing
15:14 Lomarlabs signs with Cargokite to develop a new ship class of micro ships
14:47 Greece extends naval drills that deter Russian oil transfers - Bloomberg
14:08 The Official Journal of the European Union publishes the first-ever EU regulation to reduce methane emissions
13:24 High cat fines found in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region bunker fuel samples, alerts CTI-Maritec
12:58 Yangzijiang Shipbuilding works to acquire over 866,671 sqm of land for new clean energy ship manufacturing base
12:42 GTT entrusted by Samsung Heavy Industries with the tank design of a new FLNG
10:47 Maersk signs an MoU for ship recycling in Bahrain

2024 July 15

18:06 European Shipowners and Maritime Transport Unions launch initiative to support shipping and seafarers in the digital transition
17:35 APM Terminals Mumbai switches to 80% renewable electricity
17:05 Seaspan Shipyards welcomes the formation of the “ICE Pact”
16:41 World’s first entirely hydrogen-powered ferry welcomes passengers in San Francisco Bay
16:26 FMC issues request for additional information regarding Gemini Agreement
16:24 Saipem awarded two offshore projects in Saudi Arabia worth approximately 500 million USD
16:12 Pecém Complex selects Stolthaven Terminals and GES Consortium as H2V Hub green ammonia operator
15:43 Singapore's bunker sales rise 8.5% in the first half of 2024
15:27 TORM purchases eight and sells one second-hand MR vessel
14:55 Adani plans to build port in Vietnam
13:35 Regulator gives conditional nod to HD Korea Shipping's purchase of stake in STX Heavy
13:02 HD Korea Shipbuilding wins US$2.67 billion order to build 12 container carriers
12:51 Maersk introduces SH3 ocean service between China and Bangladesh
12:24 ABS to сlass two new Seatrium FPSOs for Petrobras
11:42 CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal surpasses throughput of 5 mln TEUs
11:11 Fincantieri launches the seventh PPA “Domenico Millelire” in Riva Trigoso
10:51 India's first transshipment port receives its first container ship
10:35 The “Egypt Green Hydrogen” project in SCZONE wins a contract worth € 397 million to export green fuel to Europe

2024 July 14

15:17 FMC issues request for additional information regarding Gemini agreement
13:06 Lummus and MOL Group begin engineering execution on advanced waste plastic recycling plant in Hungary
10:51 Chinese line launches new Arctic container service to Arkhangelsk
09:49 Malta PM tours Abela toured MSC World Europa officially inagurates Valletta shore power

2024 July 13

15:47 €11 million for 1-MW Dynamic Electrolyser Unit
14:11 PSA Group and Singapore mitigate impact of global supply chain disruptions
12:23 NREL: Offshore wind turbines offer path for clean hydrogen production
10:06 MMMCZCS releases a technical, environmental, and techno-economic analysis of the impacts of vessels preparation and conversion

2024 July 12

18:00 Qingdao Port International to buy oil terminal assets for $1.30 billion
17:36 Saipem signs framework agreement with bp for offshore activities in Azerbaijan
17:06 AG&P LNG and BK LNG Solution signs an agreement to bring BKLS's first LNG spot cargo into China
16:31 Allseas removes final Brent platform with historic lift
15:58 ZPMC Qidong Marine Engineering launches the world’s largest FPSO bow section for Petrobras
15:25 MSC acquires Gram Car Carriers
14:58 ABP boosts marine capability through pilot launch upgrades
14:34 Fincantieri receives ISO 31030 attestation from RINA
13:52 Second new dual-fuel fast Ro-Pax ferry to enter service for Balearia after successful sea trials
13:24 ADNOC deploys AIQ’s world-first RoboWell AI solution in offshore operations
12:59 ABS issues AIP for new gangway design from Pengrui and COSCO
11:38 Port of Long Beach data project receives $7.875 mln to speed goods delivery
11:15 ZeroNorth to provide its eBDN solution on 12 barges operated by Vitol Bunkers in Singapore
10:46 Seatrium secures customer contract agreement from Teekay Shipping for the repairs and upgrades of a fleet of vessels
10:14 Liquid Wind and Uniper enter into strategic partnership to accelerate the development of eFuels

2024 July 11

18:06 Yanmar and Amogy to explore ammonia-to-hydrogen integration for decarbonized marine power
17:36 COSCO Shipping receives first 7500 CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTC
17:06 Monjasa adds two tankers and targeting West Africa’s offshore industry
16:34 Biden administration announces funding for 15 small shipyards in 12 states
16:10 Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization attracts nearly $1.7bln of investment in ports, maritime sector
15:52 The added value of Chinese port cities up to US$869.05 bln in 2023
15:25 HD Hyundai becomes first Korean shipbuilder to sign MSRA with US Navy
13:41 NovaAlgoma orders the world’s largest cement carrier
13:21 Steerprop selected to provide comprehensive propulsion systems for world's largest cable-laying vessel
12:41 Integrated Wartsila propulsion package supports decarbonisation and efficiency goals for James Fisher tankers
12:36 MABUX: Bunker Outlook, Week 28, 2024
12:10 Valencia Port Authority signs an agreement with C.N.E. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells to promote hydrogen research
11:41 Long Beach, Los Angeles ports partner for zero-emissions future