By launching a new monitoring, reporting and verification system, the European Union increases pressure on shipowners for emission control
In the second week of August, Lisbon-based European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) announced the start of Thetis MRV, which[ds_preview] is intended to »help reduce CO2 emissions from shipping at EU level«, marking the first of several steps in the EU’s efforts to include the maritime transport sector in its overall policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Taking a deeper look into the recent publications, it becomes clear that Thetis is not only an assistant for shipowners but also an instrument to increase regulatory pressure. EMSA expects shipping emissions to increase between 50% and 250% by 2050 – depending on future economic and energy developments. It adds, that this is not compatible with the internationally agreed goal of keeping global temperature increase below 2° C compared to pre-industrial levels, which requires worldwide emissions to be at least halved from 1990 levels by 2050.
According to the agency, the system will enable companies responsible for the operation of large ships using EU ports to report their CO2 emissions, as required by law from 1 January 2018 under the EU’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Regulation. »The move is expected to encourage the uptake of greenhouse gas emission-reduction measures within the maritime sector, as the emissions data will be made public and updated yearly,« the agency says.
EMSA was tasked to develop a robust system for the monitoring and reporting of verified data on CO2 emissions, annual fuel consumption and other energy efficiency parameters by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Climate Action. A four-year cooperation agreement was signed in March 2016, mapping out the delivery of cost-efficient services based on the use of existing infrastructure and supporting arrangements, as well as proven concepts and expertise.
Extending the possibilities of the original Thetis information system, EMSA designed what it calls a »purpose-built monitoring, reporting and verification system«. »This enables companies to work together with accredited verifiers to prepare monitoring plans in a voluntary module and, importantly, to release emission reports and documents of compliance to the European Commission and relevant flag state authorities using the mandatory module,« the agency explains.
Using the information submitted, the European Commission will publish annual aggregated data per ship covering fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and average energy efficiency indicators, among others.
However, the regulators feel to even have limited the burden for the shipping industry by restricting the rules only to ships above 5,000 GT – which account for around 55% of ships calling at EU ports and yet represent around 90% of the total share of related emissions. In a way of looking for a legitimisation of the new system, EMSA states that »several consultations« took place to ensure that the views of a broad range of technical experts, including NGOs and industry, were taken into account for the development. The web-based application can be found at: https://mrv.emsa.europa.eu
Through this web-based application all relevant parties foreseen by the regulation »can fulfil their monitoring and reporting obligations in a centralized and harmonised way,« it is stated. Thetis MRV includes a mandatory and a voluntary module: through the mandatory module, companies will generate Emission Reports which will then be assessed by Verifiers who will issue a Document of Compliance; through the voluntary module, companies may draft their monitoring plans and the system will make them available for verifiers’ assessment.
With reference to the frequent criticism from the shipping industry which favours global regulation rather than regional burdens, EMSA emphasizes that the »EU and its member states have a strong preference for a global approach led by the IMO as this will be most effective«. However, in 2013, the Commission set out an own strategy for progressively integrating maritime emissions into the EU’s policy.
RD
