Shipping Minister seeks support for Bangladesh's greener maritime industry initiatives at IMO

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has called on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and major maritime partners to strengthen their support for Bangladesh's initiatives towards a greener maritime industry in the country by 2050.

"To transition to a greener maritime industry, Bangladesh, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) require financial, technological, and knowledge support from the IMO and major maritime partners," the state minister said at the "50 Years of Bangladesh Maritime Industry: The Road to Decarbonization" organised by the Bangladesh High Commission in London during the 128th IMO Council held in IMO headquarters in the same city.

"Bangladesh is currently partnering with the IMO in its SENSREC project phase-III for safe and environmentally responsible ship recycling; and has already contributed substantially to global decarbonisation by reducing, reusing, and recycling steel as the world's leading ship recycling nation," Khalid said.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the IMO Saida Muna Tasneem said, "The government under the pro-climate leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a vision and a mission for decarbonisation of the country's shipping sector by 2050 in line with initial IMO GHG reduction strategy."

The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to IMO cited some studies including a UNCTAD report which showed evidence that Bangladesh alone, as a major ship recycling country, reduces around 2000kg CO2 per metric ton of steel recycled, contributing significantly to decarbonisation to the maritime industry.

She called upon the IMO to initiate pilot projects for Bangladesh's maritime sector to introduce new technologies for greener shipping in the country's government and private shipping sectors, reports UNB.

At the event, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim commended the Bangladesh government for improving the country's ship recycling, environmental and safety standards. He also assured the IMO's continuous support to Bangladesh in its transition to a greener shipping industry.

Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways and the head of the Indian delegation to the IMO Council Sanjeev Ranjan called for the full restoration of water connectivity between Bangladesh and India, which would be a significant step forward towards decarbonisation.

Bangladesh Commodore Md Nizamul Haq, director-general of the Department of Shipping, presented the keynote paper on Bangladesh's roadmap to achieving a greener shipping industry.

Ambassador and Permanent Representation of Brazil to International Organizations in London Marco Farani, Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO Kohei Iwaki, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK Samantha Pathirana and Deputy Director of IMO Tian Bing Huang participated in the panel discussions.

Following the event, a lunch reception was hosted by the Bangladesh delegation where Khalid announced Director General of IMSO Moin Ahmed as Bangladesh's candidate for secretary general at the IMO elections in 2023.