An International Maritime Organization (IMO) project to establish a global network of Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTTCs) in developing countries has been awarded €10 million funding by the European Commission (EC), enabling the project to go ahead.
The aim of the project is to help beneficiary countries limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping through technical assistance and capacity building. The project will strive to encourage energy-efficiency technologies through technical information and know-how to motivate higher uptake and technology transfer.
The establishment of five MTCCs will be at the heart of the project and it is these five MTCCs that will receive seed-funding support from the project and promote the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations.
The MTCCs aim to act as focal points to improve capability within maritime administrations and facilitate compliance with future and existing regulations; enable countries to become signatories to MARPOL Annex VI by developing national maritime energy-efficiency policies; promote uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in maritime transport through pilot projects, thus creating an ‘enabling environment’ for energy-efficient practices in shipping; and establish voluntary pilot data collection to support ship owners and administrators to enable their contribution into IMO debates and decision-making processes.
The capacity-building activities and pilot projects run by the MTCCs will be widely disseminated within the international maritime community to enhance capacity at national and regional levels in terms of GHG reductions and energy efficiency. As a result, the project will improve capacity within public administrations to implement and enforce regulations, and will help the participating countries in developing, implementing and enforcing maritime energy-efficiency policies.
This EU funding demonstrates its commitment to supporting and implementing measures aimed at reducing shipping emissions and will help to fight against climate change. The project, which is part of the EU’s broader climate financing portfolio to help less developed countries take climate change actions, will focus on Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, over a four year period. These have been targeted for their significant number of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDSs).
IMO is also executing a two-year project to build understanding and knowledge of technical and operational measures to lead maritime transport into a low-carbon future. This joint Global Environment Facility (GEF)/IMO/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project, GloMEEP, is focusing on developing countries, where the world’s fleet is increasingly based.
