A group of leading global shipping organisations has called on International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States to agree a clear and consistent way forward on greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation ahead of the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84).
The joint statement, issued on behalf of BIMCO, CLIA, ICS, INTERCARGO, INTERFERRY, INTERTANKO and WSC, comes after the postponement in October 2025 of the adoption of new IMO GHG measures.
The organisations stressed the need for regulatory certainty and warned against fragmented regional or national schemes that could result in overlapping or duplicated penalties on the same emissions.
They reiterated support for the IMO as the central global regulator for international shipping, highlighting its track record in delivering binding rules for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
The industry said it remains committed to the IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy and has already invested billions of dollars in the development and deployment of alternative fuels and low-emission technologies.
The statement calls for a global, fuel- and technology-neutral framework based on consistent application, data-driven decision-making, and recognition of operational realities, including fuel availability and safety considerations.
It also highlights the importance of ongoing technical work, including fuel lifecycle assessment and certification systems, which it says must form the foundation of any future regulatory measures.
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According to the organisations, future IMO rules should ensure the continued viability of transitional fuels such as LNG, LPG and sustainable biofuel blends, alongside emerging fuels including e-methanol, biomethane, bioethanol and ammonia.
The statement also references technologies such as wind propulsion, battery storage, shore power, nuclear energy and onboard carbon capture as part of the wider decarbonisation toolkit.
While noting differing levels of maturity and feasibility across these solutions, the industry said all options should be recognised for their potential contribution to near-term emissions reductions.
The statement further emphasised the need for global regulatory certainty to guide investment decisions and accelerate fuel production and infrastructure development. It also called for robust, practicable enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance and maintain a level playing field across the sector.
The groups underlined that decarbonisation is a multi-stakeholder process that cannot be achieved by shipowners alone, reiterating their commitment to working with IMO Member States to develop workable, globally applicable regulations aligned with the Organisation’s long-term climate objectives.
In a related development highlighting the push for clearer and more accessible regulation, Korean Register (KR) launched Version 24 of its KR-CON digital database of international maritime conventions.
For more information:
International Maritime Organization – https://www.imo.org/en
