Liner operators have urged the European Union to do more to help decarbonise shipping through amending its proposed policy on low-carbon fuel.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) argued that the success of the EU's proposals hinges on "optimising" the geographical scope of decarbonisation measures and ensuring that low-carbon fuel availability keeps pace with fuel supply.
In a position paper released on Tuesday, the lobby group that represents 90% of liner operators said it strongly supports the FuelEU Maritime scheme to encourage the uptake of low-carbon fuels.
But the WSC argued that it is crucial that the fuel-use proposals are matched by measures to ensure the supply of suitable fuels and infrastructure to ship operators.
It is urging that the legal requirement to use certain fuels should be contingent on their availability.
FuelEU is designed to increase the use of sustainable alternative fuels by addressing market barriers that hamper their use and uncertainty about which technical options are market-ready.
But the WSC pointed to the importance of other EU proposals including the Renewable Energy Directive, which sets renewables targets, and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation proposals on recharging and refuelling infrastructure.
Both are "so important in ensuring the provision of genuinely clean fuels", said WSC chief executive John Butler.
"Even if all the vessels in the world were able to run on alternative fuels — and the sector is working hard to make that happen — it will make no difference for our climate if that fuel is not available from clean sources,” he said.
The position paper argues for limiting the geographical reach of the EU's fuel policy as an "extra-territorial scope for FuelEU risks of overlapping regional and global policy".
Danger of losing influence
"With that comes a substantial risk of the EU failing to influence international shipping as intended," the WSC said.
"A consistent intra-EU scope for FuelEU would avoid the pitfalls of overlapping policies and generate the desired climate impact for the EU whilst supporting international progress through the International Maritime Organization with the EU in a leadership position."
The WSC backs the European Commission's proposed ‘well-to-wake’ life-cycle approach for greenhouse gas intensity, as a comprehensive, globally accepted scientific approach.
"A full life-cycle perspective is the only logical approach," Butler said.
The liner group also sees the value of FuelEU’s proposed pooling of compliance amongst ships.
This is described as "an innovative and practical way to encourage companies to invest in ever more efficient vessels due to the fleet-wide effect".
