Emanuele Grimaldi Appointed ICS Chairman
The board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), representing 80% of the worldâs merchant fleet, on Wednesday appointed Emanuele Grimaldi, President and Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed SpA, as Chairman of the Board.Grimaldi, a former president of both Confitarma and European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA), was formally voted in as chair by the ICS Board of Directors, following the announcement of his nomination last year. Alongside ICS Secretary GeneralâŚ
ICS Announces Decarbonization Summit
Maritime trade group the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced plans to host a high-level summit to address the challenge of decarbonization.Responding to a challenge thrown down by industry leaders in Glasgow, during COP26, ICS will work with partners to convene shipowners, ministers, maritime, energy and infrastructure leaders with the challenge of bringing forward a tangible path to decarbonize the sector. The closed-door meeting will be held in London the day after a dinner on June 20âŚ
COVID-19 Vaccine Offered Free for Seafarers
Crew services specialist Boers has launched seafarer vaccination programs at German and Belgian ports, as shipping executives warn of onboard COVID-19 outbreaks because mariners are not getting vaccines quick enough.Seafarers arriving at ports in Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge can get one-shot COVID-19 jabs through Boersâ scheme, which is being launched to protect key workers in the shipping industry.The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine will be available free of charge until further notice to all mariners of any nationality arriving in Belgium for crew changes.
SOS: Stranded, Shattered Seafarers Threaten Global Supply Lines
"I've seen grown men cry," says Captain Tejinder Singh, who hasn't set foot on dry land in more than seven months and isn't sure when he'll go home."We are forgotten and taken for granted," he says of the plight facing tens of thousands of seafarers like him, stranded at sea as the Delta variant of the coronavirus wreaks havoc on shore."People don't know how their supermarkets are stocked up."Singh and most of his 20-strong crew have criss-crossed the globe on an exhausting odyssey: from India to the United States then on to ChinaâŚ
Stranded and Shattered Seafarers Threaten Global Supply Lines
"I've seen grown men cry," says Captain Tejinder Singh, who hasn't set foot on dry land in more than seven months and isn't sure when he'll go home."We are forgotten and taken for granted," he says of the plight facing tens of thousands of seafarers like him, stranded at sea as the Delta variant of the coronavirus wreaks havoc on shore."People don't know how their supermarkets are stocked up."Singh and most of his 20-strong crew have criss-crossed the globe on an exhausting odyssey: from India to the United States then on to ChinaâŚ
SMM DIGITAL: The Future Of Shipping Is Smart
Digitalisation is the maritime game changer. This is why the digital transformation will be in focus at SMM DIGITAL, which has been given the leitmotif âDriving The Maritime Transitionâ. As a purely digital event, SMM DIGITAL will feature conferences with top-ranking panelists discussing current trends in Smart Shipping. International experts will report about the challenges facing the maritime industry, and highlight attractive solutions.Complex contractual relationships, the enormous dimensions of ships and routesâŚ
Poulsson Reappointed as ICS Chairman
The board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) reappointed Esben Poulsson, the current Chairman of ICS for a further two-year term.Having been at the helm of the shipping industry trade association since 2016, Poulsson has overseen ICSâs engagement with international bodies, national governments, and industry organisations on the key issues impacting international shipping. In the past year, under Poulssonâs leadership, ICS submitted, along with other industry partnersâŚ
Ship Industry Proposes $5B R&D Fund to Cut Emission
Shipping associations have proposed creating a research fund with $5 billion raised by the industry to develop technology to help the sector meet U.N. targets on cutting emissions."The global maritime transport industry has submitted a proposal to form the worldâs first collaborative shipping R&D program to help eliminate CO2 emissions from international shipping," said a press note from International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).The proposal include a new non-governmental Research & Development organisation to pave the way for decarbonization of shipping. The other highlights of the proposal are thec ore funding from shipping companiesâŚ
ICS Opens China Liaison Office in Hong Kong
The global trade association for shipowners and operators, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) opened its China Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Tuesday, 21 November, during a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.Liu Xiaoming, the Deputy Minister of Transport from the Peopleâs Republic of China, Huang Liuquan, the Deputy Director of Hong Kong, Macau Affairs Office of State Council of the Peopleâs Republic of China, and Frank Chan, Secretary for Transport and Housing Bureau of Hong Kong SAR were present to help oversee proceedings.On 20 November 2019, Mrs Carrie Lam, ChiefâŚ
UAE Joins ICS
UAE maritime industry, yesterday (Tuesday 24th September) saw the UAE Shipping Association (UAESA) becoming a full member of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).The signing, which took place on Day 2 of Seatrade Shiptech at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE, will provide a framework for closer collaboration between the two associations. The event is a part of the UAE Maritime Week taking place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.The MOU outlines the roles that UAESA and ICS will have to represent shipowners and operators in all shipping sectors and trades across the global and regional organizationsâŚ
ICS Thrusts on CO2 Reduction
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) plans to take concrete steps to support further CO2 reduction by international shipping.The representatives of the worldâs national shipownersâ associations met last week in the Faroe Islands to review the priorities of the global shipownersâ association.ICS agreed a suite of actions in support of the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy to decarbonise international shipping in line with the United Nations 1.5 degree climate change goal.Speaking from the Faroe Islands, ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson said: "It is imperative that IMO Member States adopt a new global regulation to mandate further short term CO2 reduction measures at the next session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee in 2020.
ICS Launches Annual Review
In advance of its AGM in the Faroe Islands next week, the global trade association for shipowners, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has launched its Annual Review 2019, providing in-depth insight into the most pressing issues confronting shipping, which moves about 90% of global trade.ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, explains: âThe immediate focus of ICS is the successful implementation of the UN IMO global sulphur cap, which will take complete effect on January 1. ICSâŚ
Key Shipping Bodies Strengthen Ties
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the Asian Shipownersâ Association (ASA) and the European Community Shipownersâ Associations (ECSA) signed a joint memorandum of understanding in Singapore.The new MOU codifies the extensive level of co-operation that already exists between these important international trade associations and provides a framework for their closer co-operation, said a press release. The three associations collectively represent over 90 percent of the world merchant fleet. The agreement recognises their respective memberships of national shipownersâ associations and the unique and special relationship which their members enjoy with their national governments.The MOU confirms the roles of ICSâŚ
ICS Hopes for Zero CO2 Fuels
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) believes that the 2020 global sulphur cap will be the regulatory game changer of the decade with profound implications for the economics of shipping.However, there are even more profound changes to come. "We are rapidly moving into a multi-fuel future to be followed we hope, in the 2030s, by the arrival of commercially viable zero CO2 fuels suitable for global application,â says Esben Poulsson, Chairman of ICS.As the 1 January 2020 deadline for the sulphur cap approaches, ICS members reviewed progress in persuading the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) to take measures to address expected implementation problems.
ICS Chairman Warns on Global Trade War
International Chamber of Shipping (ISC) Chairman Esben Poulsson has warned of the threats facing the global economy as US trade sanctions against China and other countries risk damaging long-term development.Speaking on behalf of the global trade association for ship owners in Tokyo on 13 November, Poulsson said that the shipping industry had little power to change the geopolitical and trade policies pursued by governments.Esben Poulsson, highlighted serious concerns about the challenge presented by the United States âto the proven benefits of multilateralism and the existing global trading order underpinned by a system of internationalâŚ
ICS Calls for Maritime Training Reform
Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has called for International Maritime Organization's (IMO) STCW Seafarer Training Regime to be revised.IMO STCW Convention governs global standards for the training and certification of around two million merchant seafarers.Addressing a Crew Connect Conference in Manila, Philippines Poulson said âItâs now commonplace for employers to routinely provide additional training and assessments prior to the deployment of many officers holding STCW certification which raises questions as to whether the Convention as currently drafted is still fit for purpose in the 21stâŚ
ICS-UN Negotiation on Future Ocean Governance
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is representing shipowners at the start of a major negotiation to agree a new legal instrument for the protection of the ocean under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) â which will apply to âhigh seasâ areas âbeyond national jurisdictionâ.Addressing government negotiators in New York today (5 September), ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, highlighted the need to ensure that this UN initiative will not âunwittinglyâ impact on the effective future governance of global shipping, potentially interfering with principles such as freedom of navigation, or otherwise cutting across the work of shippingâs global regulatorâŚ
SMM Launches with High-Profile Guest Speakers
At todayâs opening press conference of the international maritime trade fair in Hamburg, political and business leaders discussed current challenges facing the shipping industry. The focus of the debate was on the 0.5 percent sulphur limit for ship fuels which will take effect on January 1, 2020, and the industry's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping in half by the year 2050. Roughly 2,300 exhibitors and the extensive conference program accompanying the trade fair will deliver answers to the industry's complex questions. Roughly 50,000 visitors are expected to attend.
OP/ED: The 2020 Sulfur Cap â Growing Pains or Mass Hysteria?
At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2018, the global shipping industry will be expected to comply with the IMO agreed upon 0.5% sulfur cap for bunker fuels with few waivers available.For vessels which have installed scrubbers, higher sulfur fuels may continue to be used. IMOâs recent agreement on the ban of carriage of non-compliant fuel assures that cheating will not be allowed providing that port states integrate this ban into their respective port state control inspection programs.All that saidâŚ
ICS Chairman on Implementation of Global Sulphur Cap
âTime is fast running outâ for implementation by IMO Member States of the 0.5% global sulphur in fuel cap by 1 January 2020, says Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The IMO global sulphur cap for marine fuel is expected to see shippingâs bunker prices increase significantly. âWhile ICS fully supports the objectives of the IMO cap, the overnight introduction of this regulatory game-changer will have enormous implications for ship operations. In the absence of agreed standards for new fuels including blends, that will be compliant with the 0.5% sulphur limit but which may differ in their composition from port to port, ICS is very concerned this could lead to serious compatibility and mechanical problems.
IMO Calls for Govts Support for 50 % Co2 cut by 2050
The ICS Chairman was commenting on the ambitious IMO strategy to cut the total greenhouse gas emissions of shipping by at least 50% by 2050, compared to 2008 â with an agreed efficiency goal, as an average for the sector, for a 40% improvement by 2030 compared to 2008, and a 70% improvement by 2050 â so that the entire sector will be in a position to decarbonise completely, consistent with achieving the 1.5 degree climate change goal identified by the UN. âItâs important that governments recognise the enormity of what has been agreed by IMO. While the ultimate goal is zero emissions, a 50% total cut by 2050 is very ambitious indeed, especially when account is taken of current projections for trade growthâ said Mr Poulsson.
IMO Under Pressure to Tackle CO2 Emissions
The United Nations' shipping agency is under pressure this week to agree on a plan to cut carbon emissions from the sector, following years of slow progress, but the strategy could fall well short of what is required to limit global warming. The shipping sector, along with aviation, avoided specific emissions cut targets in a global climate pact agreed at the end of 2015, which aims to limit a global average rise in temperature to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius from 2020. Shipping accounts for 2.2 percent of world CO2 emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the U.N. agency responsible for regulating pollution from ships.
ICS: Compromise Needed on CO2 strategy
Ahead of critical meetings at the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) which commence on 3 April, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says that governments must compromise to help IMO agree an ambitious strategy for the further reduction of CO2 emissions by shipping that will match the expectations of the Paris Agreement on climate change. âGovernments on all sides of the debate are going to need to show far more willingness to compromise on their current positions or put at risk an agreement on a meaningful strategy. This would greatly undermine the authority of IMO and the future sustainability of the shipping industryâ said ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson.
