Denmark has forwarded four submissions to the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee on the reduction of CO2 emissions from shipping 

Denmark strives to develop binding, global and flag-neutral regulations in the IMO.

Much of the work in the IMO is based on two Danish proposals. One of them is a proposal on an energy efficiency design index for new ships intended to ensure that, in the future, ships become more energy-efficient. The other one is a market-based proposal on a global contribution on fuel to be paid to an international fund, which is, among other things, to finance CO2 reductions by purchasing climate credits in developing countries.

Most recently, Denmark has sent four elaborating submissions to the IMO. They are to be debated at the 60^th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 60) on 22-26 March 2010.

The four submissions are now available to all IMO member States and organisations from the IMO website as documents MEPC 60/4/6, MEPC 60/4/7, MEPC 60/4/8 and MEPC 60/INF.7.

Energy efficiency design index (EEDI)

Two of the Danish submissions deal with the further development of the IMO energy efficiency design index for new ships. MEPC 60/4/6 substantiates the division of ro-ro cargo ships into three sub-groups: “car carriers”, “volume carriers” and “weight carriers”. MEPC 60/4/7 proposes guidelines for the calculation of the base lines that are to be used for the various ship types in connection with the calculation of the energy efficiency design index. Denmark co-sponsors this submission together with Japan.

Contribution on fuel

The last submission elaborates on Denmark’s market-based proposal to introduce a global contribution on fuel. Denmark has co-sponsored the paper together with Cyprus, Marshall Islands, Nigeria and IPTA (International Parcel Tankers Association).

In addition, Denmark has submitted an information paper to MEPC 60 clarifying the possible consequences for future transport costs of the introduction of a global contribution on fuel. The information paper, MEPC 60/INF.7, has been submitted by Denmark and drawn up by the Institute for Maritime Research and Innovation.

The Danish submissions are to be considered part of a common package of technical, operational and market-based global solutions for reducing CO2 emissions from international shipping.

The papers are available here: MEPC 60/4/6, MEPC 60/4/7, MEPC 60/4/8 and MEPC 60/INF.7.