IAPH: Ports to Clear the Way toward Zero-Emission Shipping

Ports worldwide are ready to start working on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions both from land-based and maritime sources, in line with the Paris climate goals, according to the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH).

Where emissions from shipping are concerned, IAPH said it will use its consultative status within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to actively participate in the upcoming session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) where work will start on an initial strategy for the reduction of GHG emissions from ships.

“Ports are ready to facilitate the pathway to zero-emission shipping,” Peter Mollema, IAPH Vice-President Europe, said.

“This can be done in various ways, for instance through the facilitation of infrastructure for the supply of alternative fuels, optimising the effectiveness of port incentive schemes, increasing operational efficiency of ports to minimise ship’s idle time and the provision of climate-proof infrastructure.”

“What is important is that ports have the flexibility to use different tools and instruments according to the type of infrastructure and traffic they manage,” Mollema added.

IAPH co-sponsored a submission of Germany and other parties for the MEPC session. This submission calls for a quantified global emissions pathway for shipping to set the level of ambition of the initial IMO strategy, which is to be decided in 2018.

The objective is that emissions should start declining as soon as possible and reduce towards zero in the second half of the century, in line with the Paris climate goals.