Support garners for IMO’s net-zero framework

Germany and Panama have stepped up backing for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) net-zero framework ahead of its expected adoption in October.

IMAGE: Ships passing through Panama Canal. Getty Images

Berlin called adoption “essential” to guarantee investment certainty, level the global playing field and ensure that shipping contributes to meeting the Paris Agreement.

“Global challenges such as emissions from international maritime shipping require global solutions to enable us to take effective climate action and prevent distortions of competition,” Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport said.

Panama, home to one of the world’s largest ship registries, is also advancing its maritime decarbonisation efforts.

The Panama Maritime Authority aims to publish a draft national action plan within five months to integrate decarbonisation of shipping into the country’s wider National Maritime Strategy. The framework will be designed to attract foreign investment in alternative fuels and guide the country toward the IMO’s 2050 net-zero target.

“As an IMO member state and the country with the world's largest fleet, Panama must meet global emissions reduction targets,” the maritime authority said. “The main objective, adopted in 2023, is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping by 2050.”

Separately, the Panama Canal Authority has launched a NetZero Slot programme to incentivise vessels using alternative fuels. Benefits include guaranteed 24-hour transit, just-in-time services and flexible scheduling. It will reserve a weekly transit slot for alternative fuel-capable vessels. The first competition to claim the weekly slot will be held on 3 October, for transits during 2-8 November.

To qualify, vessels must be dual-fuel capable and able to operate on fuels with a well-to-wake carbon intensity of 75 grams of CO₂-equivalent per megajoule (gCO₂e/MJ) or lower.

This means LNG, LPG, and green variants of methane, ammonia and methanol that meet the threshold will qualify, the authority explained.

By Konica Bhatt

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