IBIA Chair Message – September
Dear fellow members and friends,
It has been a busy and productive period for IBIA, consistent with our target of being visible, relevant, impactful and far reaching.
First of all, IBIA was present during the landmark of Posidonia in Athens, hosting a highly successful reception at the Official Residence of the South African Embassy, where we were honoured by the presence of approximately 300 guests representing all echelons of the shipping community.
At the same time, preparations are at full speed for our Annual Convention, in Athens between 5 to 7 November, when the range, level and relevance of our speakers, panels and presentations shall be unparalleled.
Supreme remains our regular communication with our members, not least with our Bulletins, but also through our Members’ Meetings, such as the extremely well-attended one focusing on the updates to the new ISO 8217:2024 fuel standard. These informative and interactive meetings allow us to not only to stay updated but also to shape future IBIA policy and strategy in order to raise and alleviate concerns and affect policies through clear argumentation.
Our focus on affecting policies was also highlighted through our official proposal to the IMO to amend the CII methodology to accurately, fairly, and appropriately reflect the service of the bunker vessels. The inherent flaws need to be addressed according to each shipping sector’s specific characteristics.
Accordingly, we are gearing up for the forthcoming 82nd session of MEPC, set for September, which will mark the commencement of the CII data analysis stage and shall focus on reducing GHG emissions from international shipping. Critical issues are at stake and will be discussed as IMO Member States will decide on mid-term measures, including a goal-based marine fuel standard and a maritime GHG emissions pricing mechanism, as part of the 2023 IMO
GHG Strategy.
Changes in regulations and of trading patterns are immense. We not only maintain our members updated but also share this knowledge with our partners and the IMO, as is also manifested through our regular updates, also posted within the IMO website, relating to the Red Sea attacks on commercial shipping and how these have affected bunkering activity, by way of demand and pricing.
Our expansion plans, through targeted and meaningful cooperation, remain in focus and top priority. In that respect I am pleased to say that we joined the Green Shipping Industry Alliance Open Platform in Lingang, China, an initiative aiming to accelerate the supply of green fuels and enhance the green shipping service ecology in the area.
On the same note, new fuels remain at the epicentre of our attention. Our Future Fuels Working Group, which I have the honour to also chair, is working on the drafting of a comprehensive and accessible Frequently Asked Questions list for each of the major fuel options, in order for our members to be provided with the most recent developments and projected scenarios. All our Working Groups, Technical, MFM, Digitalization, are constantly active in order to provide and receive feedback.
These are not only exciting times but also full of opportunities for cooperation, exchange of knowledge, and increase of impact and status which the marine energy industry deserves. We are determined to increase our relevance, modernize and maintain this status. Within that context, it is vital that our internal governance is aligned with our goals and in that respect, we are finalizing a comprehensive amendment of our Bye Laws, so to reflect both effected structural changes and the operational excellence we wish to achieve. I will be communicating with you all separately with relevant updates.
Our work, projects, and aspirations are ceaseless, and the cooperation amongst our Board of Directors, our Regional Boards, and our tireless Secretariat is exemplary. Above all, the core value is and always will be you, our members, and your active support, which we highly value. This is a constant aim, which is our, and my, duty to maintain.
Constantinos Capetanakis
IBIA Chair