Ships have targets for reducing carbon emissions

[[legacy_image_358883]] The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the international body responsible for regulating maritime transport, is defining the application of sanctions and fines per ton transported for ships that do not meet established decarbonization targets.

The IMO's intention is to encourage energy transition at sea. Unlike the Paris Agreement, where adherence and targets are voluntary and defined by country, in the case of the IMO, they are mandatory, and fines will be applied per vessel.

The decarbonization targets already defined for ships are a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% to 30% until 2030, 70% to 80% up to 2040 and zero emissions by 2050.

This measure aligns with a statement made by the president of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante, on May 9th. He spoke about changes in fuels for navigation and aviation. Mercadante said that ships that do not decarbonize will face fines, within an increasingly attentive global focus on the environmental landscape and its implications for all sectors, including ports.

In addition to shipowners, the push for decarbonization impacts the entire shipping sector, including the shipbuilding industry, port infrastructure and foreign trade corridors, among others.

To contribute to this, BNDES announced in a statement that has already launched a support line for fleet decarbonization, with reduced rates for projects that demonstrate at least 30% reduction in GHG emissions using sustainable technologies and fuels. "Without subsidies, this represents a reduction of 0.2% in projects for the construction of new vessels, docking and repair, and a reduction of 0.4% for modernization, conversion or upscaling of vessels".

BNDES also emphasized its attention to the so-called blue economy (related to the sea). "We launched BNDES Azul, we are financing the brazilian marine spatial planning, we are issuing debentures on more attractive terms for port infrastructure, and the BNDES Mais Inovação program is open for investments in innovation and digitalization related to the naval sector, with costs linked to the reference rate (TR)".

Transition studies

The National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq) is currently conducting a diagnosis of how brazilian ports are being prepared for the energy transition.

This study, in partnership with the German Agency for Sustainable Development, will identify how ports are being prepared to receive vessels with less polluting fuels and how the supply of electricity is for vessels carrying out these operations. This diagnosis will allow a better understanding of the brazilian port infrastructure.

"Another point that will assist the elaboration of regulations aimed at decarbonization is the Carbon Emission Inventory, which is ongoing. This is a priority item on our environmental agenda. With this survey, it will be possible to quantify the carbon emissions emitted by the sector and by shipping companies so that more assertive measures can be taken to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement", explains Antaq in a statement.

According to the agency, only after these surveys will be possible to determine how decarbonization regulations will be implemented and possible penalties for those who fail to reach the established targets.