French shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) said it doubts the IMO will be able to resist the clamour to legislate for slow-steaming to reduce emissions.
"We are calling today on the IMO to welcome this measure. Now that the industry is ready to take an important step immediately, it is not conceivable that IMO will not act in this direction," the company said on Monday.
"The European Commission and many governments are very attentive to this today."
LDA chairman Philippe Louis-Dreyfus has been a vocal proponent of the measures, as has the French government.
Last week, owners association Bimco tabled a proposal at IMO to enforce ship engine-power limits, to back up decarbonisation gains from slow-steaming.
"We are well aware that reducing speed or power is just one step on the road that will lead shipping to the decarbonisation of its activities," LDA added.
"But it is an absolutely necessary step if only to demonstrate the will of our industry to reduce its environmental footprint and be a driving force on ecological issues, which are essential today."
