News compiled from various sources on current developments in the maritime industry in Europe is presented below for informational purposes.

1- EU maritime transport: first environmental impact report acknowledges good progress towards sustainability and confirms that more effort is needed to prepare for rising demand

Maritime transport plays and will continue to play an essential role in global and European trade and economy. In recent years, the maritime sector has taken significant measures to alleviate its environmental impacts. Ahead of a projected increase in global shipping volumes, a new report reveals for the first time the full extent of the impact of the EU maritime transport sector on the environment and identifies challenges to achieving sustainability.

With 77 % of European external trade and 35 % of all trade by value between EU Member States moved by sea, maritime transport is a key part of the international supply chain. Despite a drop in shipping activity in 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector is expected to grow strongly over the coming decades, fuelled by rising demand for primary resources and container shipping

Against this background, the European Maritime Transport Environment Report, launched today by the European Environment Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency, marks the first comprehensive health-check of the sector. The report shows that ships produce 13.5 % of all greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the EU, behind emissions from road transport (71 %) and aviation (14.4 %). Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from ships calling in European ports amounted to approximately 1.63 million tonnes in 2019, a figure which is expected to fall further over the coming decades due to stricter environmental rules and measures.

Maritime transport is estimated to have contributed to the fact that underwater noise levels in EU waters have more than doubled between 2014 and 2019 and has been responsible for half of all non-indigenous species introduced into European seas since 1949. However, even though the volume of oil transported by sea has been steadily increasing, only eight accidental medium to large oil tanker spills out of a worldwide total of 62 occurred in EU waters over the past decade.

The joint report assesses the current state of emerging maritime transport sustainability solutions, including alternative fuels, batteries and onshore power supply, and provides a comprehensive picture of their uptake in the EU. It also outlines future challenges posed by climate change for the industry, including the potential impact of rising sea levels on ports. “Our Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy makes clear that all transport modes need to become more sustainable, smarter and more resilient — including shipping. Although maritime transport has improved its environmental footprint in past years, it still faces big challenges when it comes to decarbonising and reducing pollution. Based on all the latest evidence, our policies aim to help the sector confront these challenges, by making the most of innovative solutions and digital technologies. This way, maritime transport can keep growing and delivering on our citizens’ daily needs, in harmony with the environment, all the while maintaining its competitiveness and continuing to create quality jobs,” said Adina Vălean, EU Commissioner for Transport.

“This joint report gives us an excellent overview of the present and future challenges related to maritime transport. The message is clear: maritime transport is expected to increase in the coming years and unless we act now, the sector will produce more and more greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants and underwater noise. A smooth but rapid transition of the sector is crucial to meet the objectives of the European Green Deal and move towards carbon neutrality. This will also create new economic opportunities for the European transport industry as part of the necessary transition to a sustainable blue economy. The challenge is immense, but we have the technologies, the resources and the will to tackle it,” said Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

“Innovation-driven sustainability is an opportunity for shipping to complete a transformation on the same scale as the replacement of sails by steam. This new maritime revolution will depend on ships developed through advanced technology and digital solutions, but also on a multi-layered, fully inclusive process at national, European and international level that encompasses safety, security and social aspects as well as environmental ones. But crucial too is shipping’s role as a link in a transnational logistics chain. This means that every part of that chain — from ports to the shipbuilding sector, from shippers to the private and public financial sectors — must be included in our drive towards sustainability,” said Maja Markovčić Kostelac, EMSA’s Executive Director.

2019 yılında Avrupa limanlarına uğrak yapan gemilerden kaynaklanan kükürt oksit emisyonları yaklaşık 1.63 milyon ton olarak ölçülmüş olup, küresel kükürt oksit emisyonlarının yaklaşık %16’sının ise uluslararası deniz taşımacılığı faaliyetlerinden kaynaklandığı belirtilmiştir.

“While Europe’s maritime transport sector plays a vital role for our economic well-being, this report clearly shows that maritime transport in Europe and the entire international shipping community have an urgent responsibility to step up their efforts to reduce this sector’s environmental footprint. While steps have been taken already based on European and international policies, much more is needed for a fundamental shift towards a sustainable maritime transport sector that contributes to secure the future well-being and survival of our most sensitive ecosystems and coastal areas, and the well-being of Europeans,” said Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director.

Key impacts on the environment • Greenhouse gas emissions: in total, ships calling at EU and European Economic Area ports generated 140 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2018 (approximately 18 % of all CO2 emissions generated by maritime transport worldwide that year). • Air pollution: In 2019, sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from ships calling in European ports amounted to around 1.63 million tonnes, approximately 16 % of the global SO2 emissions from international shipping. • Underwater noise: Ships create noise which can affect marine species in different ways. It is estimated that between 2014 and 2019, the total accumulated underwater radiated noise energy more than doubled in EU waters. Container ships, passenger ships and tankers generate the highest noise energy emissions from propeller use.

• Non-indigenous species: Overall, since 1949, the maritime transport sector has accounted for the largest proportion of non-indigenous species introduced into seas around the EU — close to 50 % of all species, with the largest number found in the Mediterranean. A total of 51 species are all classified as high impact, meaning that they can affect ecosystems and native species. The report also notes the limited data available in assessing the full impact on habitats and species. • Oil pollution: out of a total of 18 large accidental oil spills in the word since 2010, only three were located in the EU (17 %); better monitoring, enforcement and awareness is helping to reduce oil pollution events even though the amount of oil transported by sea has been steadily growing for the past 30 years.

Navigating towards sustainability EU maritime transport faces a crucial decade to transition to a more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable sector. Already, most ships calling in the EU have reduced their speed by up to 20 % compared to 2008, thereby also reducing emissions, according to the report.

In addition, non-traditional fuels and energy sources, such as biofuels, batteries, hydrogen or ammonia, are emerging as possible alternatives for shipping, with the potential to decarbonise the sector and lead to zero emissions. Onshore power supply (where ships shut down their engines and connect to a power source on land while berthed at port) can also provide a clean source of energy in maritime and inland navigation ports. (EMSA)

2- International Chamber of Shipping sets out plans for global carbon levy to expedite industry decarbonisation

The global trade association for ship operators, the International Chamber of Shipping, (ICS) has put forward a comprehensive proposal for a global levy on carbon emissions from ships, in what would be a first for any industrial sector.

ICS, which represents the world’s national shipowner associations and more than 80% of the merchant fleet, presented a submission to the UN on Friday, calling for an internationally accepted market-based measure to accelerate the uptake and deployment of zero-carbon fuels.

According to papers handed to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN’s regulatory body on shipping, the levy would be based on mandatory contributions by ships trading globally, exceeding 5,000 gross tonnage, for each tonne of CO2 emitted. The money would go into an ‘IMO Climate Fund’ which, as well as closing the price gap between zero-carbon and conventional fuels, would be used to deploy the bunkering infrastructure required in ports throughout the world to supply fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, ensuring consistency in the industry’s green transition for both developed and developing economies.

Shipping is responsible for approximately 2% of global carbon emissions and the IMO has recognised the need for urgent action to decarbonise. The industry is desperate to see zero-carbon ships brought to the water by shipyards by 2030. However, at current rates of production, zero-carbon fuels are not commercially available at the scale needed for the global fleet. The carbon levy is intended to expedite the creation of a market that makes zero emission shipping viable.

ICS Genel Sekreteri Guy Platten konuyla ilgili olarak şu şekilde bir açıklama yapmıştır: “Deniz taşımacılığının ihtiyacı olan şey sıfır karbonlu yakıtlar ile alternatif yakıtlar arasındaki fiyat farkını düşürecek küresel çapta piyasa bazlı bir önlem oluşturulmasıdır. Eğer hükümetler söyledikleri gibi deniz taşımacılığının karbonsuzlaştırılması konusunda devamlı olarak öncülük yapmaya devam edecek ise söz konusu önlemlerin hızlı bir şekilde geliştirilmesi çok önemlidir. Teknolojideki yeniliklerin sıfır emisyonlu deniz taşımacılığına geçiş sürecini kolaylaştıracağı kesin fakat gerekli altyapının kurulması da dahil olmak üzere bu sürece hazır olmamız için hala büyük adımlar atmamız gerekiyor. Güvenlik sorunları olmaksızın makul fiyatlar ile sunulacak sıfır emisyonlu gemileri 2030 yılına kadar suya indirmemiz gerekiyor. Eğer IMO önergemizi desteklerse bu durumu değiştirebilir ve teknolojileri ekonomik bir şekilde eşit olarak kullanabiliriz.”

Guy Platten, secretary general of ICS, commented: “What shipping needs is a truly global market-based measure like this that will reduce the price gap between zero-carbon fuels and conventional fuels. “The rapid development of such a mechanism is now a vital necessity if governments are to match actions with rhetoric and demonstrate continued leadership for the decarbonisation of shipping. “There’s no question that improvements in technology can enable the transition to zero-emission shipping. However, huge leaps must still be taken if we’re to achieve the readiness levels needed for deployment at scale. This includes building the necessary infrastructure to support such as transition. “We need to be able to put zero emission ships in the water by 2030 without challenging price and safety issues. If the IMO lends it’s backing to our proposal, then we may yet be able to change this and deploy technologies economically and equitably.” ICS believes that a mandatory global levy based MBM is strongly preferable over any unilateral, regional application of MBMs to international shipping, such as that proposed by the European Commission which wishes to extend the EU Emissions Trading System to international shipping. A piecemeal approach to MBMs, (the EU ETS will only apply to about 7.5% of global shipping emissions), will ultimately fail to reduce global emissions from international shipping to the extent required by the Paris Agreement, whilst significantly complicating the conduct of maritime trade. The levy based MBM, which is co-sponsored by the trade association for bulk carrier operators, INTERCARGO, comes in addition to an industry and government proposed $5bn R&D fund. The R&D fund, of a mandatory $2 levy per tonne on marine fuel, would be used entirely to fund the research and development of alternative zero-carbon fuels and propulsion systems. ICS has called for this fund to be approved at an upcoming pivotal meeting of the IMO in November this year. Platten concluded: “The World Bank and numerous studies have concluded that the most appropriate global MBM for reducing carbon emissions from shipping is a levy-based system. “Adopting our proposal for a levy-based system, will avoid the volatility that exists under emissions trading systems, such as the EU ETS – which in the case of shipping, seem to be more about generating revenue for governments from non-EU shipping, than helping shipping to decarbonise. “A levy based system can give the industry price certainty, and more stability for making investment decisions in zero –carbon ships and developing emissions saving technology.” (Source: ICS)

3- UK pressures IMO to target net-zero for shipping industry by 2050

Releasing its call for action at the start of London International Shipping Week (LISW), the UK government and the UK Chamber of Shipping said they want the International Maritime Organization to double its existing target. The United Nations' body is currently aiming to require the global shipping industry to cut its emissions by 50% compared to 2008 levels.

Birleşik Krallık Deniz Ticaret Odası, Birleşik Krallık tarafından güncel olarak yayımlanan ve ilk defa deniz taşımacılığı sektörünü kapsayan Altıncı Karbon Bütçesine (Sixth Carbon Budget) ve deniz taşımacılığının 2050 yılına kadar tamamen karbonsuzlaştırılması konusunda Taşımacılığın Karbonsuzlaştırılması Planı’na (Transport Decarbonisation Plan) vurgu yapmıştır. Fakat yapılan bu çağrı henüz uluslararası seviyede kabul görmemiştir.

The trade association pointed out that the UK government’s recently published Sixth Carbon Budget, which included shipping for the first time, and the recent Transport Decarbonisation Plan called for shipping to reach net zero by 2050. But this has not yet been agreed at an international level. “The aim of cutting shipping’s emissions by 50% just doesn’t go far enough,” Sanguinetti said. “We need to show the world we mean business and it is imperative that the IMO commits to a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.” He referenced the UN climate change conference, COP26, which the UK is hosting in Glasgow in seven weeks.

“The shipping industry is one of the cleanest ways of moving goods around the world,” he said, with the UK Chamber of Shipping citing that the industry currently contributes around 2.4% of global greenhouse gases each year while moving about 90% of world trade. But we know we need to do more to cut our emissions,” Sanguinetti said. “We can’t kick the can down the road anymore. We need real action at the international level, and we will work with our partners within the IMO to pursue the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

UK Chamber of Shipping president John Denholm said the world needs to know that shipping takes its responsibilities seriously. “By setting the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, people would be in no doubt about the green credentials of the shipping sector,” he said.

UK Chamber of Shipping president John Denholm said the world needs to know that shipping takes its responsibilities seriously. “By setting the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, people would be in no doubt about the green credentials of the shipping sector,” he said. UK transport minister Grant Shapps welcomed the UK Chamber of Shipping’s push on emissions. “As a maritime nation with a rich history, and host of COP26 this year, we are proud to be at the forefront of the greener era for maritime, charting an international course for the future of clean shipping,” he said.Shapps described himself as “incredibly excited” by the changes in the sector. He said the speed of progress is highlighted by the prospect of zero-emission commercial vessels in UK waters in the next few years and green English Channel crossings within a decade. At a speech during LISW on Wednesday, Shapps will announce the winners of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, focused on innovative green maritime solutions. He is also expected to reassert the importance of building a thriving maritime sector focused on innovation, highlighting his ambition to have zero-emission vessels entering into commercial service by 2025

4- 01.01.2021-28.09.2021 tarihleri arasındaki Paris MOU kapsamında Türk bayraklı gemi tutulmaları.

01.01.2021–28.09.2021 tarihleri arasında Paris Memorandumu (Paris MOU) üye limanlarında Türk Bayraklı gemilere yönelik 138 denetim gerçekleştirilmiş ve söz konusu denetimlerde 1 Türk Bayraklı gemi (İtalya–Manfredonia) tutulmuştur. Türk Bayraklı gemi tutulmalarına ilişkin detaylı bilgiler Odamız web sayfasında;

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Prepared and translated by Emre ERDOGAN, Foreign Affairs Unit Emre ERDOĞAN, İMEAK DTO Dış İlişkiler Birimi