The disappointment of COP 15 represents a real opportunity for the maritime industry.

The world shipping community has a chance to show its resolve to reduce the negative environmental impact of its operations and exert some modicum of control over its own destiny.

The topics to be discussed at MEPC 60 are not easy and the issues such as EEDI are technically challenging.

There should be rigorous debate and challenging of assumptions because that is how progress is made and the best possible outcomes are achieved.  However, it is important that the industry move forward and adopt measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

Shipping is the most carbon efficient way to transport cargo. Global policymakers should be looking for ways to shift more transportation to ships as well as tugs and barges.  

Agreeing to a framework to measure and reduce emissions will only enhance the industry’s inherent advantage over other transportation modes.

There are many important issues on the MEPC 60 agenda and I am particularly pleased to see that noise pollution and its impact on marine life is included as an agenda item.  

This subject deserves the attention of all of us in the maritime industry and I am hopeful there will be significant and constructive dialogue at this meeting.

The impact of noise on marine life is much greater than I feel most of us in the industry realize and we need to find effective solutions.

I believe MEPC 60 represents an excellent opportunity for actionable agreement which should not be squandered. We should remember nature is utterly indifferent to what we as humans think and endlessly debate but is not indifferent to the consequences of our actions.