Lack of global legislation to hinder green uptake

That’s according to a new report from global law firm Clyde & Co and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), which surveyed 220 marine industry executives from across the world.

“Formulating and introducing effective regulatory frameworks aimed at protecting the environment is always going to pose challenges for inherently global industries such as shipping,” said David Loosley, chief executive, IMarEST.

“An additional layer of regional or national directives complicates matters further, as vessel operators must ensure compliance with multiple rulesets, while manufacturers must develop technological solutions that satisfy multiple specifications.”

Lack of uniformity

Clyde & Co explains that some international maritime conventions, which target environmental protection, do exist, including the global sulphur emissions limit and the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments.

But there is a distinct lack of global regulation surrounding other key environmental issues. For example, the marine industry is not currently regulated at a global level for carbon emissions.

A fundamental concern for the industry it says is the absence of a convention, or even a non-preemptive existing legal framework, that leaves the field open to additional and potentially inconsistent regulations by different jurisdictions.

An example is ballast water requirements. IMO permits technology that renders organisms sterile, while US law requires such organisms to be dead. This demonstrates the disparity in regional and global environmental legislation.

Other barriers

The report shows that key barriers to and issues around the adoption of new energy management solutions include cost with 63% of global marine industry executives think that costs will impede the adoption of new energy management solutions.

Additionally, 73% believe that fuel availability will strongly drive the market for energy management solutions. As long as the cost of HFO is low compared to that of new energy management solutions, it’s unlikely that the benefits of the new technology will be felt as the industry will be unwilling to voluntarily invest.

Lastly, the report shows that 64% worry that energy management solutions will place additional demands on crew skills.