The Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) expresses its support for the recent joint statement issued by seven leading international shipping organisations, which underlines the vital importance of the forthcoming International Maritime Organisation (IMO) MEPC 84 meeting as a key opportunity for Member States to align positions, advance constructive dialogue and work towards common ground on practical solutions for the shipping industry’s decarbonisation pathway, while safeguarding the efficiency and resilience of global trade.

The Chamber emphasises that a unified and collaborative approach under the IMO is essential to provide the clarity and stability required by the global shipping industry. Such a framework should provide the regulatory certainty urgently needed by the maritime sector, while also sending the necessary signals to energy producers and fuel suppliers to accelerate investment in the production and availability of viable alternative marine fuels.

At the same time, the Chamber underlines the importance of the practical and effective enforcement of any new measures, ensuring that intended greenhouse gas reductions are achieved while maintaining a just and equitable transition and a level playing field across the global shipping industry. The absence of a globally harmonised framework risks increasing fragmentation through regional or unilateral measures, potentially resulting in higher costs, reduced competitiveness and regulatory uncertainty.

In this respect the Chamber encourages the IMO Member States, in an effort to achieve consensus, to give serious consideration to the alternative proposals that have been made to MEPC84 for a data driven, fuel/technology neutral decision taking into account the availability and safety of alternative fuels.  

The Cyprus Shipping Chamber remains committed to supporting a sustainable, competitive and internationally harmonised shipping sector through responsible and constructive dialogue for the benefit of all stakeholders.