MEPC 84: Greek shipowners seek ‘realistic’ overhaul of IMO Net-Zero Framework
Greek shipowners have urged the IMO to revisit the approved Net-Zero Framework, arguing that the current draft risks falling short of both industry and political realities ahead of key negotiations.
IMAGE: Union of Greek Shipowners presient Melina N. Travlos speaking at the IMO. UN
The IMO’s net-zero ambition “must be grounded in realism,” said Melina Travlos, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS).
The UGS is an industry trade body representing Greek-owned vessels across major cargo shipping segments, including bulk carriers, tankers and LNG carriers.
Travlos said Greek shipowners are “firmly committed” to shipping’s decarbonisation, but questioned whether the framework in its current form is workable.
She pointed to the lack of backing from several major flag states and registries, warning that this gap in support at the IMO should not be ignored.
Without explicitly naming LNG or other fuels, Travlos called for a “global, realistic and implementable” solution that can deliver “a just and equitable transition, while prioritising safety and providing the necessary certainty for long-term investments.”
“Failing this, the risk of a fragmented regulatory landscape, marked by regional measures that distort competition, will become inevitable,” she said, in an apparent reference to the EU’s regional measures.
She added that political ambition must match the industry’s own commitment.
UGS’ intervention comes ahead of the IMO’s Intersessional Working Group on GHG emissions meeting in London next week, which will be followed by Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 84th session (MEPC 84).
Greece supported approval of the framework at MEPC 83 in April last year, but later abstained from voting on a proposal to delay its adoption at an extraordinary IMO session in October. This shift has drawn attention to its possible stance at MEPC 84.
“Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou mentioned a cooperation with Saudi-Arabia in January 2026 but made clear afterwards that Greece is part of the EU bloc and will prioritize a common European position. Noteworthy, Greece and Saudi-Arabia did not submit a coordinated proposal to MEPC,” Lukas Leppert, senior lawyer at Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), told ENGINE.
“While Greek shipowners are concerned regarding future use of LNG ships, a majority of the industry highlighted that the sole alternative to a global framework is regional fragmentation and less coordination within a transition already underway,” Leppert added.
By Konica Bhatt
Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online
