Adopting new technologies for greener shipping

By Emmanuel  Jime

Jime is the executive secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) chose ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’ as the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day celebration, reflecting the need to support a green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future. The celebration brings together the stakeholders in the maritime sector to acknowledge its achievements whilst brainstorming ways to improve the standards in the industry.

The introduction of the 0.5 percent sulphur cap by the IMO in a bid to deal with Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from ships has given rise to concerns on how vessels can comply and how non-compliance will be dealt with around the world. The shipping industry is an important economic sector that contributes to more than 80 percent of global trade.

However, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics, the shipping industry currently accounts for between 2 percent and 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and could be 17 percent by 2050 if left unregulated. Our environment is constantly changing, and as it changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround and affect it. These environmental problems are prompting the need for renewable and sustainable energy across the world. The theme ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’ is one that addresses climate change concerns and other conditions that affect the environment due to shipping activities.

Ships are crucial to the global economy and over 85 percent of all the goods and services that enter Nigeria come via the seaports. Considering this, any transition to greener fuels could be expensive, and consumers will most likely be at the receiving end due to the huge technological advancement that is required to adapt to this change.

The time has come more than ever before to have concerted, deliberate efforts of all concerned authorities towards adopting measures, not only to implement, but also to put in place accompanying measures to cushion the effects of this change. Africa’s maritime sector is bound to be affected by the IMO 2020 targets and one of the key concerns of African states is the availability, quality and supply of low Sulphur fuel and whether refineries would be able to meet new demands.

One of the challenges is that Africa’s maritime sector is still developing and will require resources and capacity-building to strengthen institutions which are responsible for incorporating international conventions into local law, implementing the legislation and policing the environmental legislation.

I commend the Federal Ministry of Transportation for recognizing the need to create a platform where such important matters that affect not only the Nigerian maritime industry but the global maritime industry and environment at large can be discussed.

Finally, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is committed to ensuring that the added cost thrown up in the implementation of these new technologies does not increase the cost of doing business at the Nigerian seaports.

Excerpt from a goodwill message for the 2022 World Maritime Day (WMD) celebration themed ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’, 29 September, 2022.

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