Melina Travlou: In favor of Liberia and Panama proposal for the green transition of shipping

Melina Travlou (source: Shipping Herald)

The President of the Greek Shipowners' Association, Ms. Melina Travlou, in a statement, points out that the course of the negotiations to date has highlighted substantial weaknesses in the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework, which is obviously not the solution. It is crucial that the voice of shipping, which will be called upon to implement the measures, is taken into account. The green transition of shipping cannot be achieved in the absence of shipping.

In this context, the approach of the Panama and Liberian proposal, with room for further improvement, constitutes a balanced and realistic basis for the continuation of the international dialogue. It incorporates critical parameters, such as the availability and affordability of the required fuels. The importance of these parameters in determining the decarbonization path of shipping is also supported by the Japanese proposal.”

Ms. Travlou also points out that: “We therefore call on IMO Member States to effectively listen to the voice of the industry for a global solution that will ensure the necessary international consensus and combine environmental efficiency, economic sustainability and social justice. The goal is one: substantial decarbonization. Because progress is not judged by what is planned in theory, but by what can be achieved in practice, always with the common good in mind.”

The statement

In particular, the president of the Greek Shipowners' Association (HSA), Melina Travlou, in view of the upcoming negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the decarbonization of shipping (London, 1-4/9/2026), states:

"Climate change is a reality that we are experiencing more and more intensely. The increasingly frequent extreme weather events make the substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions an urgent need for individual and collective responsibility. The goal of decarbonization is a given and common one.

As a shipping industry, we recognize our role and remain firmly committed to making a meaningful contribution to this goal. We systematically invest in ship energy efficiency and new technologies, steadily reducing the carbon intensity of the industry's emissions.

Ambitious goals, however, need to remain realistic in any case and with solutions that respond to technological possibilities and the real conditions of the global market. Otherwise, we risk burdening societies and economies, without the desired environmental benefit. Throughout this process, the shipping industry has consistently argued that what is needed is a single, functional and truly applicable global framework; a framework that will be adopted by the international legislative body of the sector, the IMO.

However, the course of the negotiations to date has highlighted substantial weaknesses in the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework, which is clearly not the solution. It is crucial that the voice of shipping, which will be called upon to implement the measures, is effectively taken into account. The green transition of shipping cannot be achieved in the absence of shipping.

In this context, the approach of the Panama-Liberia proposal, with room for further improvement, constitutes a balanced and realistic basis for the continuation of the international dialogue. It incorporates critical parameters, such as the availability and affordability of the required fuels. The importance of these parameters in determining the decarbonization path of shipping is also supported by the Japanese proposal.

Equally important is that the Panama and Liberia proposal also recognizes the crucial role of ship energy efficiency and its contribution to reducing emissions, a parameter of particular importance as long as suitable fuels are either unavailable or available at excessively high costs.

Shipping is vital to the functioning of the world. Every day, every hour, every minute, it connects the entire planet. That is why decisions about its green transition are of universal importance.

We therefore call on IMO Member States to effectively listen to the voice of the industry for a global solution that will ensure the necessary international consensus and combine environmental efficiency, economic sustainability and social justice.

The goal is one: substantial decarbonization. Because progress is not judged by what is planned in theory, but by what can be achieved in practice, always with the common good in mind.”

source: naftemporiki.gr (24/8/26)