Unabhängige Zeitung zu Wirtschaft und Verkehrspolitik
21:43 GMT+2
CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE STUDI CONTAINERS
ANNO XXXVIII - Numero SETTEMBRE 2020
TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
MPA AND IMO LAUNCH NEXTGEN CARBON-FREE INITIATIVE
"The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the
IMO have launched NextGen, an initiative designed to enable
collaboration between global stakeholders in the fight to cut
carbon emissions."
Unveiled during Singapore's Future of Shipping: Decarbonisation
webinar, NextGen will facilitate information sharing on
decarbonisation initiatives across stakeholders, including all IMO
member states.
It will also identify opportunities and gaps for decarbonisation
in the global shipping ecosystem and create important networks and
platforms for collaboration.
Singapore Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung urged the maritime
industry to maintain its efforts to cut carbon emissions despite the
difficulties it has faced this year.
"While the world deals with the COVID-19 crisis, it must
keep up with the fight against climate change," Ye Kung said.
"No one can do this alone. It is a global ambition, to be
accomplished by the international maritime community.
"But we all have capabilities, expertise, and resources to
contribute to this endeavour. Singapore will do our part, and we
look forward to the maritime community coming together, under the
leadership of the IMO, to redouble our efforts and build a better,
greener world.
He also described decarbonisation as "a major plank of the
sustainable development and climate change agenda".
"As a small, low-lying city-state Singapore is particularly
vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and tackling it is a
matter of national priority."
As part of its eco-friendly strategy Singapore is developing
several carbon-free infrastructure projects, the biggest of which is
the Tuas Port, which will be the world's largest fully automated
terminal at the same time as emitting half the amount of carbon
compared to 2005 levels.
"The new Tuas Port will have a fleet of full-electric
automated guided vehicles, to transport containers within the port
premises," Ye Kung said.
"They will replace the conventional diesel-operated prime
movers. We are actively encouraging vessels which call at our ports
to use cleaner fuels such as LNG, by providing them with port dues
concessions, and co-funding building of LNG-fuelled bunker tankers.
"We are also exploring the electrification of our harbour
craft."
IMO General Secretary Kitack Lim also spoke and called for more
action to speed up research into carbon emission-free fuels.
"To achieve this the IMO is stepping up its efforts to act
as a global forum and promoter in R&D in zero carbon marine
fuels, bringing together interested stakeholders from public and
private sectors, and also private and development banks and other
potential donors around the world."