Maritime sector can play key role in climate change initiative

A major effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships is being spearheaded by MTCC Caribbean – part of a global network of five Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres. Shipping agents and operators can play their part by assisting MTCC Caribbean with its data collection.

The Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Caribbean, hosted by the University of Trinidad & Tobago, is a part of the ‘Capacity Building for Climate Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry’ project (2016-2019) funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Five MTCCs have been established: one each in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. Together they constitute the Global MTCC Network (GMN). The central aim of the GMN is to promote technology cooperation and capacity building within the maritime sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. To achieve the GMN objectives, MTCC Caribbean aims to:

• Provide a platform for partnerships in enhancing energy-efficient methods in the maritime domain at international level and specifically in the Caribbean region;
• Identify environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies available to the region;
• Enhance awareness and uptake of environmentally sound technologies and expertise within the Caribbean region;
• Provide advisory and market development services for technology adopters and suppliers;
• Monitor regional energy efficiency needs and align training programs to meet these needs.

Pilot projects

The MTCC Caribbean initiative also includes two pilot projects aimed at promoting the uptake of energy-efficient technologies and establishing a fuel consumption reporting system for ships trading in the region. Through these pilot projects, a baseline on the use of energy-efficient technologies and the type and quantity of fuel consumption of ships trading in the region will be established.

This baseline data will provide regional stakeholders with data for informed decision-making on investment in energy-efficient technology and emissions abatement and control methods. The data will also highlight to what extent vessels trading in the region are complying with MARPOL Annex VI. This can be used to inform government policies on environmental and maritime affairs. Via a single form, data for both pilot projects is collected on the use of onboard equipment and machinery including air emissions abatement and energy-efficiency technologies. In support of the pilot projects, Energy Efficiency Focal Points have been established in the Caribbean territories for the purpose of collecting data.

Key partnerships

Key partnerships of maritime sector stakeholders within the 16 Caribbean territories are required for the pilot projects to realize their objectives. These stakeholders include maritime administration, training institutions, ports, technology providers, ship owners, shipping agents, classification societies and pilotage associations. These partnerships are required to facilitate the completion and submission of the MTCC Caribbean’s data collection form.

Capacity-building initiatives

Capacity-building activities are being supplemented by eight workshops. Two regional workshops will be conducted targeting all 16 territories, while six subregional workshops will cater to the specific needs of the northern, eastern and southern Caribbean. The first series of northern, eastern and southern subregional workshops have been hosted in Jamaica, Antigua and Trinidad respectively. Participants included shipping agents, ship owners, ship operators, managers, regulators, ministry representatives, maritime technology providers, green energy providers, international organizations and academics.

Challenges encountered

The major challenges encountered within this project are:

• The voluntary nature of data collection
• The lack of incentives for cooperation
• The non-regulatory requirements for reporting of data to MTCC Caribbean.

Mitigation strategies

Based on the challenges encountered and the feedback from territories currently reporting data to MTCC Caribbean, there has been greater engagement with ports, ship operators and owners, shipping agents and shipping associations. In addition, MTCC Caribbean has produced an Information Notice to distinguish between the data required by the IMO’s mandatory data collection system and the data being collected for MTCC Caribbean data collection and reporting system (via MTCC Caribbean’s data collection form) for pilot projects.

Future works

Baselines established from the pilot projects are expected to inform regional decision-making with respect to investment in energy-efficient technology, emissions abatement and control methods for the maritime sector. More engagement is required from industry stakeholders to facilitate the role of MTCC Caribbean in creating a platform for technology transfer; and to aid the regional flag states in the development of reporting lines as required by IMO regulations,

MTCC Caribbean is calling on all maritime stakeholders within the Caribbean to strengthen their data collection and reporting efforts in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the sector and mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

So, shipping agents and operators, are you reporting on MTCC Caribbean’s data collection form?