More than 100 shipping executives have urged the IMO to adopt mandatory slow-steaming regulations.
In a letter, the industry bosses said there was an urgent need to address climate change, the Financial Times reported.
Discussions on the issue are due to take place at the IMO in May.
Boxships are already slow-steaming, and are excluded from a French-led speed limit plan, which focuses on tankers, bulkers and gas carriers.
But in the letter, the executives argued for boxships to have a maximum speed averaged across a year.
This would enable exporters of perishable goods to travel faster during peak seasons.
Other vessel types would have a fixed maximum year-round.
The letter also warned that studies suggest ships are speeding up again.
“Should this trend continue, any GHG gains from slow steaming over recent years will disappear,” it added.
The main driver of the mandatory plan, French shipowner Philippe Louis-Dreyfus of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, was a signatory, as were Euronav and Greek owners.
Ioanna Procopiou, chief executive of Prominence Maritime, which also signed the letter, said speed limits were “easily enforceable” because of satellite tracking systems.
But she added: “I don’t know who’s going to enforce punishment. What is important for us is to get this measure on the table.”
Dreyfus told TradeWinds he had early support for the idea from Greek heavyweights Georgo Procopiou and Petros Pappas.
The idea is a simple one to help the environment and eventually boost ship rates, he added.
Some countries, including fruit exporters, were likely to object to the plan, France has said.
Dreyfus told TradeWinds this month that he hoped to have the whole Greek industry behind his plan soon.
