US Congress Urge For An Executive Order On Maritime Decarbonisation

23rd September 2024

A group of U.S. Congress members is urging President Joe Biden to issue an Executive Order (EO) to accelerate maritime decarbonisation. Their proposals include implementing a goal-based fuel standard for ships entering U.S. ports, phasing out and banning sulphur scrubbers in U.S. waters, and eliminating in-port ship emissions by 2030.

Led by Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, co-author of the 2022 Clean Shipping Act, the lawmakers submitted an open letter to President Biden. In the letter, they expressed gratitude for his leadership in tackling the global climate crisis and for his commitment to reducing all greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. transportation sector by 2050.

The group is calling for the EO to immediately establish a system for monitoring, reporting, and verifying fuel consumption and emissions data from all ships operating in U.S. waters and ports. They also requested funding to support the electrification and noise reduction of the federal ferry and harbor craft fleet.

The letter was co-signed by several Congress members, including Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Adriano Espaillat, Robert Garcia, Jimmy Gomez, Jared Huffman, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Doris Matsui, Kevin Mullin, Chellie Pingree, Katie Porter, Delia Ramirez, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, and Rashida Tlaib.

Supported by environmental organisations like Ocean Conservancy and Pacific Environment, the letter also urged the government to back U.S. shipbuilders and maritime stakeholders in developing low and zero-emission vessels. Additionally, it called for investment in the research, demonstration, and supply chains for zero-emission fuels and technologies in the maritime industry. Protea endorses the call to move to a more positive action plan for marine shipping in the US and globally.

Meanwhile in the UK there have been similar calls made regarding maritime decarbonisation. The UK Chamber of Shipping, along with seven other maritime trade organisations, has written to the UK's maritime minister, Mike Kane, calling for the development of a long-term strategy to decarbonise the shipping industry. The letter was signed by the UK Chamber of Shipping, the British Ports Association, the British Tugowners Association, Cruise Line International, Maritime London, the Society of Maritime Industries, the UK Major Ports Group, and the Workboat Association.

In their appeal, the maritime bodies urged that creating a successor to the Clean Maritime Plan should be a top and immediate priority. They emphasised the sector's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving net-zero emissions. Protea have a full shipping emissions section on our website offering direct in-situ measurement (CEMS) at https://www.protea.ltd.uk/marine.

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