Letter from London: Shipowners propose carbon levy
Trade association the ICS is trying to take the initiative and steer the industry’s decarbonisation on its own course
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)—a trade association representing ship owners and operators and more than 80pc of the global merchant fleet—has made its own proposal for a levy on carbon emissions from ships in response to plans by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and European Commission. The ICS submitted its “comprehensive” plans to the IMO, which envision "an internationally accepted market-based measure to accelerate the uptake and deployment of zero-carbon fuels.” The group proposes a levy based on mandatory contributions for each ton of CO₂ emitted from “ships trading globally” and with a gross tonnage in excess of 5,000t. "[Our proposial is] an i
Also in this section
15 December 2025
As contradictory as it might seem, US oil output has continued to grow over the last several years, even as drilling in the shale plays has maintained a slow decline. This improbable dichotomy is a testimony to the industry’s technological prowess
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability






