European Sustainable Shipping Forum

The European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF) was established by a Commission Decision of 24 September 2013 C (2013) 5984 final, setting-up a group of experts on maritime transport sustainability. It advanced the implementation of the Sustainable Waterborne Transport Toolbox with a vision to promote clean, competitive and quality shipping without compromising safety. What initially started as a forum that shall work towards a cost-efficient and coherent implementation of the provisions of the Directive 2012/33/EU as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels, has now been extended to assist on the recently adopted Regulation 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from maritime transport adopted on 29 April 2015 The tasks of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF) are to assist the Commission in implementing the Union?s activities and programmes aimed at fostering sustainable maritime transport. The ESSF shall provide a platform for structural dialogue, exchange of technical knowledge, cooperation, and coordination between Member States, and relevant maritime transport stakeholders.

The Commission decided on the 24th of September 2013 to set up the European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF). The task of the ESSF is to assist the Commission in implementing the Union's activities and programmes aimed at fostering sustainable maritime t ransport, including fuel efficiency. The ESSF will advance the Sustainable Waterborne Transport Toolbox's efforts for a cost-efficient and coherent implementation of the provisions of the Directive 2012/33/EU as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels which transposes the international low sulphur standards into EU law. The ESSF provides a platform for structural dialogue, exchange of technical knowledge, cooperation and coordination between the Commission, EU Member States and relevant maritime ind ustry's stakeholders. It also envisages to deliver opinions, submit reports, develop and propose innovative solutions to the Commission on any matter of relevance to the promotion of the sustainability and competitiveness of maritime transport in the Euro pean Union. The ESSF will operate with the following structure: a plenary, a secretariat, and non-permanent technical working groups to further develop the actions outlined in the Toolbox Progress Report. The ESSF envisages in particular to: -provide gui dance on the implementation of the Sulphur Directive; -create the framework conditions for the use of marine LNG as ship fuel; -create the framework conditions for the use of scrubbing technology in shipping -explore and evaluate all the available finan cing opportunities -coordinate research and development activities and encourage innovation. Totalt består ESSF av 30 medlemmer som representer rederier, havner, logistikkselskaper, bransjeforeninger, klasse selskap og Research. MARINTEK ved Dr. Haak on Lindstad er en av tre fra Research og Utviklings sektoren i Europa, og Lindstad har også fått plass i Technical groups for Research & Innovations og Competitiveness (sjø versus vei).