THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) should share shipping companies' private data on ship efficiency and fuel consumption, say environmental lobbies Transport & Environment (T&E), Seas at Risk (SAR) and Carbon War Room, reports London's Tanker Operator.
Environmentalists say the IMO and the EU should oppose shipowners resisting disclosure of performance data, or who resist mandates to publicise it themselves.
The lobby groups said that the lack of available data makes it more difficult to mount publicity campaigns to save the world from global warming.
This week the eco groups have submitted briefs to the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London from October 13 - 17 this week to demand that shipping companies divulge what they consider private commercial information.
Members of the Clean Shipping Coalition have used research by the University of Gothenburg that says transparency is essential to reduce green house gases and "develop a sustainable low-carbon future".
Jessica Coria, professor of environmental rules and regulations at the university, said: "Social and market pressure resulting from information disclosure can generate strong incentives for control in a way that enforcement tools may not."
Failure to make ship performance data available would be neither productive, nor in the best economic interests of the industry, she said, adding that its availability would drive down costs.
Said Clean Shipping Coalition president John Maggs: "Transparency of data will help drive down industry costs, improve the functioning of the shipping market and lead to desperately needed reductions in ship GHG [green house gas] emissions.
Said Transport & Environment shipping manager Bill Hemmings: "Energy performance data is an essential first step to reducing the sector's emissions, which are predicted to treble by 2050 on a business-as-usual basis and threaten attempts at tackling dangerous levels of climate change."
Said Carbon War Room senior associate Victoria Stulgis: "Carbon War Room knows a lack of access to data is a major barrier to the take up of clean technologis, so we urge the IMO to deliver open access to EEDI [Energy Efficiency Design Index] data."
Said Rightship CEO Warwick Norman: "The take-up of RightShip's A to G efficiency rating is an example of the market moving faster than industry regulations. In 2012 we had three charterers using A-G - now we have over 30 customers, including ports, terminals and banks, who factor energy efficiency into their vessel selection criteria."
IMO&EU NEWS
13 October 2014 - 20:29
Eco lobbies ask IMO to divulge private ship efficiency data this week
THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) should share shipping companies' private data on ship efficiency and fuel consumption, say environmental lobbies Transport & Environment (T&E), Seas at Risk (SAR) and Carbon War Room, reports London's Tanker Operator.
IMO&EU NEWS
13 October 2014 - 20:29
Eco lobbies ask IMO to divulge private ship efficiency data this week
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