BIMCO’s Marine Committee has followed the International Chamber of Shipping’s recently announced policy on the  Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships built after 1 January 2013 and advised its shipowner members not to build new ships without EEDI even if a waiver is available under IMO regulations agreed this July.

In a statement BIMCO said it was very satisfied to see IMO adopting technical and operational measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships at the 62nd session of its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in July 2011.

It said: “This adoption cements IMO’s centre stage position when it comes to establishing the regulatory framework for international shipping.” 
BIMCO’s Marine Committee Chairman Philip Embiricos said: “EEDI provides both opportunities and challenges for our industry - opportunities to build and operate more energy-efficient and cost-effective ships and challenges for ship designers and ship builders to excel their naval architectural and engineering skills focusing on efficiency improvements.” 

He added that EEDI should result in better ships and not just slower ships. Having evaluated the commercial implication of new ships built after 1 January 2013 being granted flag state waivers from  compliance with the EEDI requirement BIMCO’s has decided  that its “firm recommendation” is that due to the lifespan of ships and the significant uncertainties in respect of governments’ environmental agendas and how these may be applied, its members should abstain from building new ships without certified EEDI compliance.

It warned: “Such ships would be compromised in relation to their future second-hand value in the market, potentially restricted in their ability to trade worldwide and be less attractive in the charter market due to their perceived lower efficiency.”

Mr Embiricos added: “BIMCO has a duty to provide the best possible information enabling our members to make the right decisions for their particular businesses. Our advice against waivers in no way bears a political signal. On the contrary, it is purely an acknowledgement of shipping being a global business and in line with BIMCO’s objectives to promote fair business practices, free trade and open access to markets”