Ocean cargo/global logistics: International Maritime Organization fears U.S. may be going Green on its own
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently under a court order to propose U.S. air emission standards applicable to ocean‐going ships by December.
Patrick Burnson -- Logistics Management, 10/28/2009
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently under a court order to propose U.S. air emission standards applicable to ocean‐going ships by December. And while many shippers are fine with that, some prominent industry analysts are questioning whether it will undermine a bilateral effort to clean the environment when the court-imposed deadline is met.
“As we consider the fate of proposals before the International Maritime Organization (IMO), we will be well‐served to be mindful of the need to move in a manner that clearly demonstrates to national governments that the IMO is not only technically competent, but is efficient in its process of decision making,” said Christopher Koch, President and CEO, World Shipping Council.
The chief concern for Koch and his constituents is that “influential” political voices in the U.S. may call for unilateral regulatory action, arguing that the IMO cannot be relied on to act on such matters in a timely manner.
“This would be most unfortunate,” he said.
Both the U.S. and Canada have proposed establishment of an extensive Emission Control Area (ECA) off their coasts extending to 200 miles off shore.
“Some parties will probably question the spatial extent of the proposed ECA, and such questions and debate are an appropriate part of the IMO deliberative process,” said Koch.
Nonetheless, given the extensive analysis and documentation behind it, approval of the proposal would seem likely, he added.
“The timing and nature of the debate undertaken at the IMO may, however, have significant political implications in North America that may affect future air emission standards for the industry, including standards for greenhouse gas emissions,” Koch warned. “Unnecessary delay in considering these governments’ ECA proposal would have consequences that should be understood, if we want to see the IMO maintain its
position as the leading regulatory authority for establishing environmental standards applicable to international shipping.”
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