Japan to propose bunker levy refund for ships that save fuel

Japan will propose to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that vessel operators who have improved their energy efficiency be given a refund on the bunker fuel levy. The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO is to meet in London in July this year. At an earlier meeting, in April 2008, Denmark had proposed a levy on bunker fuel to reduce consumption. Japan’s idea is to refund the levy to ship operators who have, for example, “reduced speed or taken optimum routes,” to save fuel, media reports said a source at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said. Japan hopes the refund will work as an incentive for ship operators and help reduce greenhouse emissions. Japan will also propose putting in place a standard to measure the fuel efficiency of ships. There are no global standards to measure the fuel efficiency of ships. (March 19, 2009)