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September 4, 2025, 12:52pm
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The United States is leaning hard on allies and rivals alike to reject a landmark United Nations agreement to slash emissions from marine fuels, Reuters reports. Washington has warned that nations pressing ahead with the International Maritime...
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A spokesperson from BIMCO, shipping’s largest lobby group, told Splash the US stance is unlikely to derail implementation if the framework passes, but warned that Washington’s non-participation would complicate enforcement.
“Even when, or if, the US places reservations that the rules will not apply to them, it will, because all ships of non-US flag trading internationally are bound by their flag.US ships will also be required to comply if they trade internationally. There is only the option of non-party bilateral trade outside the rules,” the BIMCO spokesperson explained last month.
For shipowners, the bigger headache may be the uncertainty the US move injects into fuel investment decisions. Broker SSY said dry bulk ordering remains paralysed by the absence of clear, stable rules, with owners hedging between LNG, ammonia, and methanol in the hope of future-proofing fleets.
US shear of world trade is now abt. 15% and falling. How long before foreign flag ships stop calling at US ports?
