Shippingtelegraph: Greek shipping minister calls for fair, realistic rules after IMO net-zero delay

The debate on the adoption of IMO’s Net Zero Framework has been postponed for a year, after unprecedented meetings of tension and disagreement in the history of the organization.

Greece, one of the world’s leading shipping nations, took a cautious stance on the proposed International Maritime Organization (IMO) carbon tax.

In this context, the Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Vasilis Kikilias, in an official statement, underlined that shipping needs international, fair and realistic rules, accepted by all member states, and not punitive mechanisms that will endanger the stability of global trade.

As he noted, Greece, with its long naval tradition and the strongest fleet internationally, will play an active role in the new negotiations that will determine the final IMO framework for the green transition of shipping.

Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Vasilis Kikilias raised similar points few weeks ago in the Maritime Cyprus 2025 Conference in Limassol.

He called for improvements, stressing that more realistic timetables, fair treatment of transitional fuels and smarter use of reward mechanisms are needed.

The minister emphasized that “we agree on the framework, but we want realism. LNG has proven its reliability and must be utilized as a transitional fuel. We still do not have zero or near-zero emission fuels, not even to approach the reduction targets of the coming decade. The cost of the transition is very high, and a significant part of it must return to the shipping industry and the corresponding infrastructures.”

Some Greek shipowners, big names in the world shipping, long regarded as the industry’s traditionalists, publicly denounced the framework, calling it “unrealistic” and “detached from the commercial realities of global trade.”

While Greek shipowners are investing in cleaner technologies they remain wary of regulatory measures that could disrupt business models.

The Union of Greek Shipowners see the delay to reach an agreement on its Net-Zero Framework and the postponement of the decision until next year as a “new opportunity to shape a sustainable and effective international framework that will guide global shipping safely and realistically through the green transition.”

Athens, while acknowledging the agreement’s flaws, it says “is ready to lead constructively, with evidence-based and unifying proposals, in a global effort to shape a fair, practical and enforceable clean plan, where all stakeholders assume their share of responsibility on the collective path toward the green transition.”

“The lack of consensus highlighted deep rifts over the proposed Net-Zero Framework regulation, where the positions advanced by the shipping industry were not sufficiently taken into account,” the Greek shipowners union said in its statement.

As one of the top shipping nations, Greece plays a critical role in shaping global regulations. The challenge now is to find a path that balances environmental goals with economic realities, ensuring that the transition to clean shipping is both realistic and effective.

Statement of Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Vasilis Kikilias

“Shipping needs international rules accepted by all and not punitive mechanisms. Greece, as the largest power in global shipping, has always supported the IMO as the exclusive regulator of shipping rules. It raised its concern early on the so-called “zero emissions framework”, proposing significant improvements, so that it meets the real needs and capabilities of all shipping sectors and the reality of the global fuel market.

“The negotiations that followed have been arduous and have highlighted serious weaknesses in terms of implementation schedules, the unfair treatment of LNG fuel, and the unjustifiably high penalties on shipping which, if adopted, would probably cause serious disruptions in world trade and increases in product prices.

“The adoption of the final agreement has been postponed for a year, during which significant negotiations are required to take place among IMO members, integrating market views with realism and fairness. This is dictated by the need for energy security for both international shipping and global economic growth.

“Greece, with its great naval tradition, special know-how and the strongest fleet, will claim an important role in these negotiations for the framework under development.”

Statement of Union of Greek Shipowners

“Today’s decision to delay the process at the IMO presents a new opportunity to shape a sustainable and effective international framework that will guide global shipping safely and realistically through the green transition.

“The lack of consensus highlighted deep rifts over the proposed Net-Zero Framework regulation, where the positions advanced by the shipping industry were not sufficiently taken into account.

“Greek shipping remains firmly committed to the shared goal of decarbonisation and is ready to lead constructively, with evidence-based and unifying proposals, in a global effort to shape a fair, practical and enforceable clean plan, where all stakeholders assume their share of responsibility on the collective path toward the green transition.”