| Following the 72nd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, (MEPC), we know how the strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from global shipping will work. Or do we? Yes, the new limit on sulphur content of ship’s fuel oil of 0.5% will come into force on 1st January 2020 under MARPOL Annex VI. Yes, it will be illegal to carry HSFO on a ship not fitted with an approved exhaust gas cleaning system. Excellent progress, but what is the strategy to reduce GHG emissions from shipping beyond the EEDI and operational targets already set? The initial GHG strategy outlined involves measurement and analysis from Spring 2018, (MEPC 72), through to Spring 2023, (MEPC 80), when a “Revised IMO Strategy” will be adopted. The consensus needed to achieve this approach was a significant achievement, but how will the European Union view this five-year delay in deciding how to reduce shipping’s carbon footprint? Will the MRV regulations take shipping calling at European ports into the EU Industrial Emissions Directive by 2023? How will shipyards meet the increasingly stringent EEDI requirements for new ships? As our industry plans for the use of compliant fuels; based on scrubber technology, new low sulphur fuel oils, distillate or alternative cleaner fuels there are technical and commercial decisions to be made quickly. No doubt the price, availability and technical solutions will start to clarify, but I have absolutely no doubt that there will be many questions to debate with colleagues and solution providers when we meet in Stamford this October! Angus | 
