IAPH Insider- March 21, 2024

This edition covers:

 

This week’s Insider highlight with Rhona Macdonald

 

Agreement on IMO Global Fuel Standard in the making

Last week, IAPH attended the 16th meeting of the IMO Intersessional Working Group on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships (ISWG-GHG 16). The session was held ahead of the 81st Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 81) which takes place this week. Member States and international organisations discussed ways forward to develop the basket of candidate mid- and long-term GHG reduction measures to achieve the targets of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy. Although delegations were in agreement to develop a Global Fuel Standard (GFS) in the form of a GHG fuel intensity limit and trajectory for emissions reductions, there are diverging views on methodological aspects, including whether or not to include a flexibility mechanism to encourage compliance by all ships. This would either be in the form of flexible compliance units (FCUs), Remedial Units (RUs), or a pooling mechanism, as outlined in the various proposals. For the accompanying global pricing mechanism, further work is required to align delegations. Whilst EU countries and Pacific Island nations continue to advocate for a mandatory global levy as the most simple and effective approach to see the necessary deep reductions in emissions, numerous delegations argued that this would be a tax on distance and could impact trade for those countries far from the markets. Additionally, some argued that the generation of revenues is a by-product of the measure and not the sole purpose, thus continued to advocate for their respective proposals for a feebate mechanism, or a combined approach to ensure a just and equitable transition. IAPH also co-sponsored a submission providing a glossary of definitions in relation to the reduction of GHG emissions from international shipping. Although aimed at facilitating discussions and decisions making at MEPC 81, the Group agreed that this would be more appropriately disseminated through the new Future Fuels and Technology Portal being designed by the IMO Secretariat that is due to be launched soon. IAPH is also attending MEPC 81 and will disseminate a report to members on the outcomes at the end of this week. For an easy-to-use guide prepared by IAPH’s policy and IMO liaison officer Rhona Macdonald to discussions underway at the IMO on the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions from ships, click here.

 

IAPH World Ports Tracker for Q3-Q4 2023 is published

The latest IAPH World Ports Tracker report has been published and has been made available for public use, this time summarising results from the second half of 2023 as reported by IAPH members during the first quarter of 2024. The 110 page report, co-authored by professor Theo Notteboom and professor Thanos Pallis, contains regional breakdowns as well as micro-analyses of latest data from IAPH member port respondees, the S&P Global Port Performance Program and the UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index. The report includes updates on vessel call numbers by different shipping segment and sentiment over forecasted vessel traffic, container port performance globally and by region, developments in liner shipping connectivity, plus the regular survey questions on intermodal connectivity, storage and transport availability as well as specific data on cruise and passenger traffic. It also contains highly useful reporting on investment sentiment, where port investments will be focused in the upcoming years, and how the Red Sea crisis has impacted ports. To download your copy, click here.

 

 

March – April edition of Ports & Harbors is out

For our March and April edition, we have a cover interview with Karin Orsel, who has been appointed as the first female president of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). Karin speaks together with IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven about shipping’s resilience in crises, the Fit for Fifty-Five initiative and the Emission Trading Scheme in Europe. We look at changing global trade patterns that are impacting Southeast Asia and what makes the terminal operator ICTSI tick with its executive vice-president. The edition also takes a view on the investments of Grimaldi Group.  The Harbour Life port-city guide on Antwerp-Bruges is reviewed and we have the chief executive of the British Ports Association, Richard Ballantyne, taking us through his busy working day.

 

 

‘Safety First’ IMO 2024 World Maritime Theme

‘Navigating the Future: Safety First!’ has been selected for the IMO’s 2024 World Maritime Theme, which will culminate in the celebration of World Maritime Day on 26 September. The theme reflects IMO’s work to enhance maritime safety and security, in tandem with the protection of the marine environment, whilst ensuring its regulatory development process safely anticipates the fast pace of technological change and innovation. Safety has been at the heart of all of IMO’s activities since the organisation was established in 1948. 2024 also marks 50 years since the adoption of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, the key IMO treaty regulating maritime safety. Find out more about the theme through this link and in the video message from IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez below.

 

 

Marking International Women’s Day with the IMO

The IMO marked International Women’s Day with a discussion panel and Q&A session on the theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’. IAPH was there to hear the wide-ranging conversation, moderated by IMO’s Galuh Rarasanti. The panellists were Miatta-Fatima Kromah (IMO Gender Network), Maria Dixon (ISM Shipping Solutions), Gina Panayiotou (World ESG Forum) and Peter Broadhurst (INMARSAT). The women on the panel shared demotivating instances of bias they had experienced on their career journeys, as well as what outlining resources and approaches had helped them to build confidence and stay resilient in a male-dominated industry. Gina Panayiotou noted the need to raise general awareness of careers in maritime, adding that ‘the fuel of the future is people’. This point was echoed by Miatta-Fatima Kromah, who expanded on the work of the IMO Gender Network, and the importance of outreach work to the education sector. Acknowledging that structural change was needed across the industry, Peter Broadhurst pointed to research that showed diversity led to improvements in company performance. Reflecting on a 44-year career in shipping, Maria Dixon urged women in the maritime industry to be confident and never be afraid to speak up for themselves.
 

 

IAPH joins first Maldives Maritime Conference

On 6-7 March, the IAPH representative for India, Ennarasu Karunesan, joined the first Maldives Maritime Conference, organised by IAPH member Maldives Ports Limited under the leadership of their new CEO Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim. The event was supported by IAPH, UNCTAD TrainForTrade, Valencia Port Authority, Fundación Valenciaport, Maldives State Shipping, and Johor Port Berhard. The conference addressed the topics of innovative and emerging technologies, maritime transport connectivity and logistics, energy efficiency and climate resilience. Ennarasu gave an overall presentation on IAPH and joined the closing panel discussion on ‘What Does the Future Hold for the Maritime Industry?’, together with UNCTAD TrainForTrade’s Mark Assaf, and Azmath Jaleel, moderated by Eva Perez Garcia from Fundación Valenciaport. The second day of the conference included on-site visits, including the new Hulhumale’ International Terminal built on reclaimed interconnected islands.
 
 

ESI introduced to UN Global Compact Brazil

The benefits of the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) were presented to port industry leaders at the 7th meeting of the Ocean Business Working Group of the UN Global Compact Brazil, on 12 March. The working group – which comprised more than 60 companies, including private and public ports – is focused on maritime and port decarbonization and provides a platform for valuable knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. IAPH attended at the invitation of Porto do Açu, an ESI Incentive Provider and board member. The remote meeting was themed around ‘Cabotage and Fleet Modernisation’ and – following thoughts from lead speaker Dino Antunes Dias Batista, director of shipping and waterways at Ministry of Ports and Airports. IAPH’s technical director Antonis Michail and business development director Nick Blackmore gave a well-received presentation on the topic of ‘port incentives for greener vessels’, with particular emphasis on the strength of the ESI Incentive Provider network in the region.
 

Silver Sturgeon reception roundtrip with the PLA

Last week, IAPH attended the annual Port of London Authority (PLA) reception, which took place onboard Silver Sturgeon, the largest passenger vessel to cruise central London. Emphasising high pilotage service levels and the launches of the Clean Thames Manifesto and the Net Zero River Plan, PLA chairman Jonson Cox described “a PLA that is really engaged in developing the commercial side of the river but also very, very conscious of the importance of the natural river”. Following Mr Cox’s speech, Silver Sturgeon left Tower Bridge Quay for a one-hour river trip, where guests took in impressive views of the Palace of Westminster, London Eye, Tower Bridge, from the large open-top deck.
 

 

New EDF/Arup report on port decarbonisation

A new report from Environmental Defense Fund and Arup shows how adopting a zero-emission strategy for supply chains and energy systems both on and off port terminals is beneficial to the climate, surrounding communities’ health, and operators’ bottom lines. It also acts as a roadmap for those interested in applying for federal funding, including the USD 3 billion available through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program, which was recently announced.  The report, ‘Practical Pathways for Port Decarbonization and Environmental Justice’ offers a series of best practices for net zero-aligned activity and creates measurements for accountability. Specifically, it provides a dashboard with key steps ports can take to help them reach net zero by 2050. Many of these same steps are fundable under the Clean Ports Program, which seeks to reduce air pollution near domestic ports impacting nearby communities.

 

Member Port News

In this edition’s round up of member port news, you will find stories from the following IAPH members:

  • Africa and Europe region:  Autorità Portuale di Genova (Port Authority of Genoa), Autoridad Portuaria de Bilbao, APS- Administração dos Portos de Sines e do Algarve, SA, Baku International Sea Trade Port, Port of Amsterdam, North Sea Port, Autoritat Portuària de Barcelona, Autoridad Portuaria de Huelva, bremenports GmbH & Co. KG, Port Autonome de Cotonou, Port of Rotterdam Authority (Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V.)
  • America region:  Port of Hueneme, Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Port of San Diego, Port of Portland, Port of Long Beach, Northwest Seaport Alliance, Port of Los Angeles
  • Asia and Oceania region:   Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries(Korea), PSA International Pte Ltd, Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (YGPA), Ulsan Port Authority, Busan Port Authority, Marine and Water Bureau, Government of Macau, SAR, Lyttelton Port Company Ltd., Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), April 1, Chittagong Port Authority

 Check out the full line up on our Member Port News page.

 

World Maritime News

These maritime news stories made at the headlines over the past two weeks.
 
・Gemini Cooperation is a closed club, says Habben Jansen
・Shippers wary of Gemini reliability promise
・Is globalization coming to an end? Not quite, but brace for slower trade growth
・Former CIA chief says maritime trade under threat from global instability at TPM24
・Panama Canal expected to be operating at full capacity by September
・Rerouting pushing up ETS bill for containership operators
・Cargill prototype proves that wind wings could be a win-win, eventually
 
For details of each story, please visit the World Maritime News section on our website.

 

Calendar of Events

IAPH events and events where IAPH is represented

  • 18-22 March 2024 – IMO Marine Environment Protection Cttee (MEPC 81) – London
  • 25-27 March 2024 – IAPH Technical Committee Days – London
  • 8-12 April 2024 – IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL 48) – London
  • 10-11 April 2024 – PorTech Asia – Shanghai
  • 10-12 April 2024 – Pan African Association for Port Cooperation – Libreville
  • 22-26 April 2024 – IMO Legal Committee (LEG 111) – London
  • 24 April 2024 – IAPH Board meeting (online)
  • 25-26 April 2024 – ESPO Conference – Paris
  • 8-9 May 2024 – Green Ports & Shipping Congress – Singapore
  • 13-24 May 2024 – IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108) – London
  • 21 May 2024 – Annual Lunch British Ports Association – London
  • 21-24 May 2024 – UNCTAD Global Supply Chain Forum – Barbados
  • 5-7 June 2024 – GreenTech – Halifax
  • 9 July 2024 – IAPH Board meeting – Tokyo
  • 8-10 October 2024 – IAPH World Ports Conference – Hamburg

 

Back
Translate