A new international rule has been adopted that mandates the reduction of greenhouse gases for vessels responsible for international logistics, and it has been decided that regulations will begin in 2023, two years later.
The new international rules were deliberated and adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the United Nations Maritime Organization IMO late on the night of the 17th of Japan time.
Not only newly built vessels but also vessels already in operation will be obliged to reduce greenhouse gases.
The method is to reduce fuel consumption by setting a certain reduction target value for each type and size of ship and limiting the speed.
In addition, in order to make it effective, the regulatory agencies of each country will investigate and rate the fuel efficiency performance of each ship for one year, and if the evaluation is low, they will submit an improvement plan.
In the deliberation, opinions were divided between developing countries and the United States and Europe, which demand stricter values, over the fuel efficiency performance that is the standard of rating, but finally agreed and the regulation will start in 2023. Become.
Hideaki Saito, Technical Deputy Director-General of the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, who chaired the IMO committee, said, "The goals of each country are changing toward decarbonization. I would like to set up and deepen the discussion to achieve it. "
The committee proposed the establishment of a fund to support research and development toward decarbonization, and it was decided to continue discussions.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism accelerates technological development of "next generation vessels"
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has proposed a plan to accelerate the technological development of "next-generation vessels" such as ammonia-fueled vessels that do not emit carbon dioxide and promote their practical application in order to lead the global warming countermeasures of vessels responsible for international logistics. It was announced last month.
Among them, as "next-generation vessels", ammonia fuel vessels, hydrogen fuel vessels, and LNG fuel vessels that suppress methane emissions are listed, and the development and demonstration of engines and fuel supply systems will be promoted for each.
Of these, the goal is for ammonia-fueled vessels to complete commercial operations as soon as possible by 2028, and for hydrogen-fueled vessels to complete demonstration operations by 2030.
MOL will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050, Kawasaki Kisen will halve greenhouse gas emissions, and NYK will halve carbon dioxide emissions in 2015 as a measure against global warming. We have set the goal and are proceeding with our efforts.