Managing director Patrick Verhoeven gave the IAPH view on maritime decarbonisation at TPM25 in Long Beach on Monday. Speaking at a panel session titled ‘Where Does Container Shipping Decarbonization Go From Here?’ Patrick told delegates there was reasonable confidence that the IMO would come to an agreement at MEPC 83 in April about both a technical and economic measure.

He explained that the technical measure will be a fuel standard and that the nature of the economic measure is still under discussion, with a significant number of member states and the shipping industry favouring a straightforward carbon levy. Patrick emphasised that for IAPH the important discussion was about the revenue that the economic measure would generate and that some of the funding should be available for investment in port infrastructure in developing countries, both on climate adaptation and climate mitigation measures. This would ensure the just and equitable transition process with which many IMO member states are concerned.

Patrick was in conversation with TPM chairman Peter Tirschwell; other panellists included Andrea Goeman of JAS Worldwide, George Goldman of CMA CGM North America and Bryan Wood-Thomas of the World Shipping Council.
Source: IAPH