The OECD should be cautious about becoming involved
in the question of what constitutes an ‘eco-ship’, was the message delivered to
governments in Paris by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) at a
meeting of the OECD Working Party on Shipbuilding.
ICS believes that this subject is best left to the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) or for shipyards to negotiate with
their customers. If further consideration were to be given to an OECD
definition of ‘eco-ship’ this should not be used as a justification for future
subsidies by governments that might lead to market distortion.
Referring to China’s new ship recycling policy
whereby it is offering significant subsidies of about $250 per gross tonne for
Chinese shipping companies that scrap vessels early and then place orders at
Chinese shipyards for at least the same tonnage, ICS expressed concern that
such incentives to artificially boost shipbuilding could have a negative impact
on the speed with which the global supply/demand balance in shipping is
restored.
ICS reminded governments that for reasons of
safety, as well as economy, a ship was built with an expected life span of 25
years or more. It was a big thing indeed for ships to be recycled when they are
only 15 years old, which in some cases was happening at the moment.
ICS also suggested that the CO2 emissions created
by dismantling a new ship far earlier than intended, and then constructing a new
one, were considerable, but were often overlooked, and could actually outweigh
the CO2 saved through efficiency reductions achieved by the new ship replacing
it.
Using the current definition of a fuel efficient
vessel, a new-build ship that complies with the applicable Energy Efficiency
Design Index (EEDI) – adopted by IMO to help reduce CO2 emissions – it should
not always be assumed that ordering so called eco-ships would be in the best
interests of the owner, their customers or the environment.
Many older ships, if operated at slower speeds, or
given improvements such as engine upgrades or new propellers, may well continue
to operate efficiently with low levels of fuel consumption that make them
attractive economically and environmentally – especially if the owner has a
smaller debt to service.
But in the long run all ships in operation would in
effect be ‘eco ships’ as all new builds will have to comply with tighter EEDI
IMO standards, and all of the existing fleet will eventually be replaced.
Source: ICS
Source: Hellenic shipping news. 26 November 2014
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