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SEAaT, the industry association dedicated to shipping emissions abatement and trading, has announced that B9 Shipping, the fossil fuel-free cargo ship builder and part of the B9 Energy Group, has become an associate member of the organisation - joining Wilhelmsen Premier Marine Fuels, a leading Norwegian bunker broking company, the other associate member of the organisation.

"SEAaT has seen increasing interest in associate membership from companies and organisations that are commited to ensuring that the industry develops an economically viable, fair and definitive solution for reducing its emissions. By joining SEAaT, associate members can make certain that their views are represented and heard within the regulatory and legislative bodies responsible for the shipping industry," SEAaT said in a statement.

John Aitken, Secretary General, SEAaT, added: “How we meet our environmental targets will define the future of shipping and effect every facet of the industry. Creating an opportunity for associate members to join SEAaT reflects this. We believe every company and organization should be involved in some capacity in taking responsibility for shaping the industry’s destiny.”

SEAaT has made extensive representations at regulatory and legislative levels to promote the benefits of a ‘cap and trade’ scheme that would work in conjunction with the IMO’s operational and design efficiency proposals. This includes a collaboration with the UK Chamber of Shipping in the development of a discussion paper concerning open and global emissions trading for shipping, which is supported by the Shipping industry associations of Australia, Belgium, Norway and Sweden.

Aitken continued: “Despite the failure of COP 15, the industry must be proactive in developing a strategy for reducing emissions that creates choice and a clear framework within which to work. Emissions trading achieves this. It provides commercial incentives, it provides the foundation for marine technological innovation to flourish, it creates sustainability for the long term, and it guarantees emissions reduction. We know that it has worked for land-based industries, and the trading infrastructure is already in place. All we need is a price for carbon and an emissions reduction target.”