Editorial CommEnt
Where to now
guv’nor?
the roller coaster ride through greenhouse gas regulation could
get more complicated if the imo’s secretary-general becomes
sidelined.
A
s circuses go Copenhagen’s Protection Committee (MEPC) 60 that it expectation that would be imposed on the
citizens’ view of the climate change should adopt the IMO’s climate change battle industry by the IMO in a number of stages.
spectacular was front row, but the plan and that should take place in London How much better then, would it be for the
expected upbeat finale never materialised and in March. shipping community to accept the IMO
now the mantle has passed to Mexico City at Even before the MEPC meets Mr proposals, if it is not already too late, and
the end of this year for the next instalment of Mitropoulos’ itinerary could be put into maintain the organisation as the industry’s
the global extravaganza. further turmoil by the announcement by regulator, rather than let the IMO fall foul
Large sums of money and a worrying the end of this month of what, if anything, of the machinations of politicians and see
amount of climate changing fossil fuel were the signatories to the Copenhagen accord the industry regulated by those who do not
expended in the pursuit of what turned out to actually signed up to. There is a growing know or understand it.
be a show with no headline act. Leaving those realisation that this was in fact not much, Additionally, regulation of the industry
in industry, particularly the maritime and air it was a long cab ride that took us all over would become fragmented with nation
industries, wondering where the negotiations the climate change landscape, but dropped states or economic blocs imposing their own
are headed. us off perhaps a metre or two from our maritime regulations with which shipowners
In fact the ‘Accord’ leaves almost all routes starting point. would have to comply.
still open to the signatories. It was like jumping With that realisation coming to those in This process has already effectively
into a cab and firing off any number of major power in Europe the chance that the EU will begun with the introduction of Emission
city destinations to the driver; it would take matters into its own hands is increasing Control Areas (ECA) from the Baltic Sea
probably not help, confusing the driver into and could yet see Brussels introduce to the English Channel that will see ships
a car crash. It would be like holding a massive unilateral regulations that will force all operating in these zones having to use fuel
international conference and offering any ships calling at its ports to meet its more with a maximum of 1% sulphur from 1 July.
number of vague conclusions as an outcome. stringent rules. Meanwhile, EU regulations allow fuels with
Oh wait we already did that. Such a scenario would seriously a 1.5% sulphur limit while ports outside of
International Maritime Organization undermine the IMO and would require a EU waters allow a much higher 4.5% limit.
(IMO) secretary-general Efthimios visit to Brussels to discuss the implications Some ships could cross the boundaries
Mitropoulos was diplomacy personified. He of such a move. One implication could well for each regulation in a single voyage, with
expressed his concerns in coded, diplomatic, be that the US maritime authorities follow owners responsible for meeting the different
language. Still he also saw an opportunity for suit and impose their own regulations too, levels in each jurisdiction and subject to fines
the maritime community to show the world further undermining the role that the IMO for failing to meet those requirements.
its commitment to fighting climate change. plays in regulating the shipping industry. How much more complicated would it be
He was effectively saying ‘hang on driver I That would prompt a further ride to if the ECA scenario were replicated through
might be on my way to Bonn’, where the first Washington for Mr Mitropoulos. say CO controls, NOx rules, damage stability,
2
round of talks in the lead up to Mexico City Once all these visits were exhausted safety of life at sea regulations and so on.
will take place between 31 May and 11 June, the upshot would be that the maritime In theory this would reduce Mr
with a second round of talks taking place in industry will need to curb its emissions by Mitropoulos, or rather the position of
early to mid-November. a significant amount by 2050, probably by secretary-general of the IMO, to nothing
Before that, however, Mr Mitropoulos around 50%. more than a cab driver, asking the politicians
must persuade the Maritime Environmental That is not so very different to the “where to now guv’nor?” NA
The Naval Architect Month 2009 7
NA Jan 10 -
p7.indd 5 12/01/2010 09:54:49
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