Time to take rotor sails seriously

TALKS crucial to the future of the shipping industry are underway this week at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.

IMO's marine environment protection committee (MEPC) is meeting for its 69th session. Following the adoption of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, and building on the discussions at its previous session, it will consider further a proposal defining international shipping's contribution to the global efforts to address climate change.

What that means is IMO will be seriously considering a cap on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. If agreement on this is reached in principle, then we will be on the road to a carbon levy of some sort. That is a complex issue and politically fraught for several reasons.