The Italian Confederation of Shipowners underlines the importance that the decarbonisation strategy of shipping is defined in IMO headquarters. In the light of the US withdrawal from the negotiations led by the representatives of the nations of the International Maritime Organizations participating in the meeting underway in London of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the body composed of all IMO Member States dealing with the issues of prevention and control of pollution from ships ( of 9 April 2025), the Italian shipowners' confederation hopes that the discussion remains within the IMO, but specifies that it shares some US concerns.

"Certainly - explains the president of Confitarma, Mario Zanetti - it is important that we continue to work to identify a global solution and therefore on site IMO the rules should be defined avoiding the spread of a regulatory fragmentation with the spread of regional initiatives uncoordinated, as already observed with the European ETS. Such eventuality would expose operators, in particular those European standards, to a patchy regulatory imposition, with a consequent increase in operating costs, which would undermine the The added value that shipping has been able to create for the economy and therefore for all citizens. However, it should be noted - specifies Zanetti - as in recent weeks, considering the recent issue of tariffs, there is renewed attention of the US administration for its importance and strategic importance maritime transport and the protection/enhancement of the industry shipowners. We sincerely hope that the institutions further consolidate the central role in the European policy strategy of a strategic sector such as the of shipping".

The note, in balance between the said and the unsaid, from which it is It is difficult to understand whether the administration of Washington or that of Brussels, or both, or perhaps neither of the two, expresses Confitarma's hope "that can soon return to a constructive and multilateral discussion, in particular able to ensure a balance between environmental and environmental objectives. industrial sustainability so that the transition energy in the maritime sector will now continue along a realistic, coordinated and inclusive trajectory".

Clarifying that "the transition to a low-cost economy emissions is a globally shared goal that transversally concerns all production sectors, including the maritime transport' and that 'in this context, uncoordinated for the different sectors are counterproductive", in the Confitarma note "reiterates the need for the transition is also economically sustainable and that takes into account of technological neutrality. That is, it is necessary - points out the Confederation - avoid the risk of "lock-in technological standards" by preparing a standardization that does not favor or penalizes a specific technology. The rules should be limited to define objectives to be achieved, leaving freedom to the operators on what solutions to adopt to achieve them".

The one proposed by Confitarma to agree on rules that only determine where to set the goal, without imposing on the runners which route to follow to get there, it seems frankly a simplistic approach to problems that dutifully an institution, even a supranational one such as the IMO, must face fixing the starting line, the route to follow and defining the point of arrival, without forgetting to verify that the participants do not use unlawful expedients to achieve the end of the course before the others and making less effort than the other. In short, making sure that competition is fair and that the competitors are not harmed and so are the spectators (i.e. communities) directly or not indirectly affected by the potential outcomes of a comparison iniquitous.

That something is wrong with the suggestion that "the rules they must limit themselves to defining objectives to be achieved, leaving freedom to operators on what solutions to adopt to achieve them" seems to be suspected by Confitarma itself, which In the note, it specifies that "environmental measures must be applied gradually, rewarding investments already carried out in low-carbon and high-efficiency technologies", implicitly admitting a dutiful check to be sure of reward those who crossed the finish line first without cheating, and perhaps penalize those who cheated.

Underlining the importance "that the discussion on these issues, taking into account the concerns expressed by the American administration" and reiterating that he believes "the IMO privileged forum for international discussion on the issues of shipping", the Confitarma note goes on to highlight, "in the need to preserve the balance of fleet - also, we add, with the other modes - the demand for greater neutrality - also in light of the critical issues encountered in the CII system - and concern about the economic impact of measures potentially disproportionate for certain traffics and realities maritime ".

If Confitarma does not seem worried about how the companies of the will compete to comply with the objectives set by the IMO, seems justifiably alarmed by the possibility that the shipping sector is penalized in comparison with other mode of transport. These are issues - recalls the Confederation - that Confitarma, together with the shipowners' association ECSA and the international ICS, has long since placed its place to the attention of the competent offices.

Confitarma's request to the IMO to take into account the latter eventuality. But trust that the industry of the shipping is self-regulating, just not.

Bruno Bellio