IMO Net Zero Framework vote crucial for ports

Speaking at London International Shipping Week, IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven warned that fragmented national and regional rules could derail shipping’s decarbonisation path and stall critical port infrastructure investments.

“Adopting the IMO Net Zero Framework which was agreed upon last April will send a clear signal to industry, providing the incentive that is needed for the uptake of new low and zero carbon fuels,” he said.

Ports hold the key

At the decarbonisation event at London International Shipping Week, Accelleron presented a report with proposals to solve the deadlock of shipping’s carbon-neutral fuel transition.

Accelleron’s report suggests that ports may hold the key to unlocking more coordinated and focused investment, given their central role as shared infrastructure serving multiple hard-to-abate sectors, including steel, cement, chemicals, power and aviation.

The IMO’s extraordinary Marine Environment Protection Committee session (MEPC ES.2) in October will see Member States vote on amendments to the MARPOL Convention.

IAPH stresses that without adoption, developing countries risk being left behind in the energy transition, undermining global access to alternative fuels.

Prior to MEPC80 which took place in 2023, IAPH and partners pushed for a global pricing mechanism and credit trading scheme to narrow the cost gap between hydrocarbon and low-carbon fuels.

Such an approach IAPH said will finance research, development and deployment of alternative fuels while enabling vital investments in port infrastructure across emerging economies.

A study commissioned by IAPH estimates that developing countries will require between $55 and 83 billion for port adaptation and mitigation and the IMO Net Zero Fund is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting these investments and ensuring a just transition.

“A failure to adopt the Framework would create absolute investment uncertainty, both for shipping companies and ports and with that significantly delay the decarbonisation of the maritime sector,” said Mr Verhoeven.

”Achieving IMO’s net zero targets would become impossible. It would most likely lead to more regional decarbonisation measures for shipping, adding to those already introduced through the Emission Trading Scheme by the EU. A mixture of national and regional measures could spell a disaster for the maritime energy transition.”

IAPH recently broadcasted a webinar hosted by Mercator How will the upcoming IMO MEPC decisions in 2025 impact ports? with interventions from numerous experts from IAPH, the development banking sector and its member ports.

MEPC ES.2 is a topic which will no doubt be hot on the agenda at the 2025 edition of the IAPH World Ports Conference taking place from 7 to 9 October in Kobe, Japan.