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hilst safety has dominated the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) agenda since it was established in 1948 (coincidentally the same year that the Liberian Registry was established), in recent years the environment and in particular air emissions have taken the top spot and will probably stay the main item on IMO’s agenda until international shipping has met the decarbonisation goals set forth by the IMO. Decarbonisation is the regulatory issue that is most affecting shipping now, and it will shape the course of the industry for generations to come. How the industry looks at the implementation of new technologies, new fuel sources, and changing operational methods to meet the IMO’s goals on emissions will be a matter of great concern for some shipowners, seafarers, class societies, and flag states. However, some key stakeholders will also see this as a huge opportunity to transform the maritime industry along the lines of environmental sustainability, paving the way for an even brighter future through zero emission vessels for international shipping. The Liberian Registry has taken a leading role from the flag state perspective to work in close collaboration with high quality shipowners/operators, engine manufacturers, shipyards, and designers, as well as classification societies and other key stakeholders to take this opportunity to transform the maritime industry toward a zeroemission sustainable future.
Greenhouse gas reduction measures After the recent IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 76), it is now known that IMO adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI that will require ships to further reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These amendments combine technical and operational approaches to improve the energy efficiency of ships, and they also provide important building blocks for future GHG reduction measures. The technical measures that were adopted require all ships to calculate their Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and is applicable from the first annual, intermediate, or renewal IAPP survey after 1 January 2023. In addition, ships 5000 t and above will be required to establish their annual operational carbon intensity indicator
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