Page 25: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2019)

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: COATINGS & CORROSION CONTROL tors, as well as coatings manufacturers including Hempel are going to be able to continue to adapt and meet yet more stringent environmental regulations in future. The IMO has now committed to reducing total annual greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from the commercial shipping industry by 50 percent com- pared with 2008 levels. Doing so will mean reaching peak emissions as soon as possible, before radically reducing all GHG emissions across operations.

The target has been set in line with the United Nations Paris Agreement, and was rati? ed – in a very positive sign – with very little objection. Re- porting suggests that from the absolute reduction in emissions, the strategy pre- scribes a 40 percent energy ef? ciency improvement by 2030 compared with 2008, pursuing efforts for a 70 percent improvement by 2050. Achieving this will require all across the maritime in- dustry to work in the spirit of collabo- ration to develop new and improved solutions.

Looking at the bigger picture, it is important to recognize that we are not travelling alone in the challenge of tackling climate change. It would be defeatist to suggest that the maritime industry has been singled out by regu- latory authorities wanting to implement regulations which seek to limit GHG emissions. This is, and should be, a concerted global effort. We, alongside other major industries, nation-states

The Since1939LEADER and individuals will be expected to play our part. The fact that so much empha-

Sliding Watertight Doors and Custom Closures sis has been placed on the shipping industry to deliver re? ects the impor- tance of our industry to enabling and maintaining life as we know it.

We may be wading into choppy wa- ters, where the current is pushing full force towards an altogether different operating environment for the shipping industry – one de? ned by a vessel’s ability to move goods worldwide, at a pro? t, without detriment to the natu- ral environment. Meeting the IMO’s 2050 target will without doubt be dif- ? cult. It will involve cost and we will ™ be moving against the tide. However,

E + E = A W TNGINEERING XPERIENCE INNING RADITION if we proceed with cautious optimism, we will get there, and will continue to move most of the world’s goods world- wide, at a pro? t, without detriment to

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the natural environment. Simply tread- 91 Willenbrock Rd., Unit B4, Oxford, CT 06478 • www.wkdoors.com ing water and avoiding this challenge,

Tel: 203-267-5712 • Fax: 203-267-5716 • E-mail: [email protected] is not an option. www.marinelink.com 25

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