The shipowners’ association has welcomed the European Commission’s recognition that that ‘the environmental ambitions of the Green Deal will not be achieved by Europe acting alone,’ but is concerned over the intent to include international shipping in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
As previously reported, the European Green Deal was published on 11 December by the European Commission, and BIMCO acknowledges that it is ‘an important policy document outlining many elements which may contribute to the decarbonisation of society’ and has also welcomed the Green Deal’s focus on accelerating the development of zero- and low-emission ships.
However, BIMCO says that if a market-based measure were to be considered for international shipping, it should be at the global level at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other ‘more appropriate options that ETS should be considered – such as a levy on carbon emissions’.
The Green Deal also indicated that the EC will be looking closely at the issue of taxing fossil-based marine fuels. BIMCO highlighted that if such a move were to be implemented, then ships would simply lift bunkers at non-EU ports.
‘We also note that taxation of shipping and its services is a delicate matter which has been dealt with for decades by states all over the world bilaterally, including the EU member states, using the OECD model convention,’ said the organisation.