The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Germany sign an agreement to develop a project to identify opportunities and solutions to prevent and reduce transport emissions in Asia.

In a statement, the IMO said it signed an agreement to undertake the preparatory activities leading to the development of a project proposal to reduce maritime transport emissions in East and Southeast Asian countries with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany (BMU).

The project, it said, is supported through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of BMU.

"IMO will partner with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) to undertake the preparatory project and to develop the full project proposal," it said.

The agreement, signed on April 1, is said to be "the first step in an ambitious Asia Maritime Transport Emissions project (known as the Blue Solutions Project) that aims to support East and Southeast Asian countries in identifying opportunities to prevent and reduce transport emissions."

IMO noted that the full-size project, once approved, will target the reduction of GHG and other pollutant emissions from ships within ports, and from hinterland transport through energy efficiency improvements, optimized processes, and innovative technologies (blue solutions).

"Partnerships are essential in tackling the global issue of emissions which are harmful to the environment. By identifying opportunities to reduce maritime transport emissions and demonstrating potential technological solutions in partnerships with various stakeholders in the region, this project will help developing countries in Asia to move closer towards a low-carbon future," said Jose Matheickal, chief of the Department of Partnerships and Projects, IMO.

Matheickal noted that they also hope to "design a full-size project proposal which we hope to submit to Germany for approval by end of this year."

The agreement, also signed by Philipp Behrens, Head of Division, International Climate Initiative, BMU, will allocate 385,697 Euros in funds to develop a full-size project proposal.

Preparatory stage partnerships

At the preparatory stage, IMO said it will work with China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam to develop the full-size project proposal.

Efforts may also be undertaken to identify capacity-building needs in other Asian countries like Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore.

"The full-size Asia Maritime Transport Emissions Project, which is slated to receive funding of some 15 million Euros, is one of several IMO-led initiatives designed to support the developing countries in the implementation of IMO Initial GHG strategy," IMO said.