European shipowners believe COVID-19 may negatively impact decarbonisation investments

19 May 2020 A survey held by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) among its members revealed that COVID-19 may negatively affect efforts to decarbonise the shipping industry. Responding to a general question about investments in...

19 May 2020

A survey held by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) among its members revealed that COVID-19 may negatively affect efforts to decarbonise the shipping industry. Responding to a general question about investments in reduction of air emissions, 44% of the respondents to the survey think it will no longer be possible to return to the investments planned prior to the pandemic. Only 26% of the respondents to the survey think they would return to the same level of investments, whereas 30% think the investments would still happen, but to a lesser extent. Commenting on the overall rather gloomy outlook emerging from the survey, ECSA commented: “This is a major setback for the industry, which is fully aligned with the IMO’s 2050 CO2 reduction targets, and has since the new European Commission took office been supportive of the EU’s ambition to be the world’s first carbon-neutral continent.” The full results of the survey are available from the ECSA website.