London (AFP)

Maritime transport, one of the most polluting sectors, wants to reduce its huge carbon footprint through alternative fuels, but is reluctant to further limit its speed, which has yet proved its effectiveness.

"Shipping will change because we have to deal with climate change," said Edmund Hughes, a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at a conference organized by the UN body, which held last week in London.

This industry accounts for 2.3% of CO2 emissions according to the professional organization Armateurs de France and 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Higher Institute of Maritime Economics (Isemar): it is more than air transport, yet much more criticized.

At stake is heavy fuel oil, with a high content of sulfur and nitrogen oxides and fine particles, which propels 60,000 to 90,000 ships, depending on the tonnage - including the huge oil tankers or container ships - that make up the world's commercial fleet.

"Maritime transport uses the worst fuel in the world and is the last major sector not to have been regulated," says Faig Abbasov, of the Brussels-based NGO Transport et Environnement (T & E), questioned by AFP.

In 2016, however, the IMO adopted a new international standard, dividing by seven (0.5% vs. 3.5%), the maximum permitted sulfur level in fuel, which comes into force in early 2020.

Among the alternatives - biofuels, hydrogen, electric, sailing vessels - liquefied natural gas (LNG), adopted for the future ships of several French companies, "seems the preferred option today", estimates a consultant of the sector, before biofuels that still have too much impact on land use ".

Major manufacturers like Shell are also pushing for the transition to LNG.

However, this solution requires supply infrastructures, specific storage capacities on board and a suitable engine.

- Additional costs? -

Other possibilities to limit polluting emissions: the use of sails and the reduction of the speed of ships, inexpensive and immediately effective.

"The wind is free, it should be used to reduce emissions" pollutants, adds Faig Abbasov.

A large part of the French maritime sector, via a working group of the employers' organization Medef, pronounced at the beginning of October in favor of the reduction of the speed of the ships and the option is considered by Emmanuel Macron as the "one the most effective ways to reduce emissions ".

It has already proven its effectiveness, according to a report from the firm Clarksons published late September. According to him, the speed of the ships has on average decreased by 15 to 20% since 2008, which allowed the industry as a whole to reduce its carbon emissions by 18% despite a fleet increase of 35% on the period.

"Shrinking the speed of ships is one of the options on the table, but it's not the only one," says Hiroyuki Yamada, director of the marine division at IMO.

"This measure is promoted by some shipowners but not by all," he added, questioned by AFP "Our role is to put in place effective measures but able to offer some flexibility".

The topic will be on the agenda of the 75th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to be held from 11 to 15 November. The French maritime sector hopes for a possible vote in its favor in 2020, for implementation by 2023.

© 2019 AFP