CLIA joins carbon push

CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) is one of eight global organisations urging support for a US$5 billion fund to assist with the decarbonisation of marine transport.

The proposed fund, to be managed via an International Maritime Research & Development Board, would aim to identify and develop new technologies which could enable the operation of commercially viable zero-carbon vessels.

It’s envisaged the project would see these uber-green ships in operation by the 2030s, with the program to be overseen by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

It would be funded by a mandatory contribution from the shipping industry of US$2 per tonne of marine fuel used.

CLIA Chief Executive Officer Kelly Craighead said “the industry continues to look well beyond 2020 and is dedicated to working collaboratively across the sector to identify the new technologies and energy sources that will enable us to reach IMO’s ultimate goal of zero carbon emissions across the maritime fleet”.

Technologies that could be considered include fuelling ships using hydrogen or ammoniabased technologies, but a wide range of practical challenges would need to be solved including storage, distribution and deployment of systems.

The plan is being promulgated in the lead-up to a meeting this week of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, with other bodies involved including Intercargo, Interferry, Intertanko and the World Shipping Council, together representing about 90% of the global shipping fleet.