Maersk Withdraws From the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the World's Largest Shipowners Association

Maersk has withdrawn its board of directors from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the world's largest shipowners' association, citing disagreements over climate policy. Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping groups, has been on the ICS board for about a decade, but Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, a Maersk executive and ICS board member, has announced her resignation from ICS. Maersk said in a statement that the decision followed a climate-driven review of its membership. ICS is a long-term supporter of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has made limited progress in curbing greenhouse gas emissions in the seven years since the Paris climate agreement was signed. In recent years, ICS has pushed for a compromise scheme to fund a 10-year study of zero-carbon shipping technologies under a small-scale research tax of $2 per tonne of marine fuel administered by the IMO. The IMO MEPC rejected the plan twice in the past year, and ICS is now continuing internal discussions on an industry-driven climate initiative. In contrast, Maersk has already committed to a target of net-zero emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the non-shipping sector target set by the Paris climate agreement. Maersk's policy package for the rest of the industry is similarly ambitious, with Maersk's chief executive calling for a $450-per-ton fuel fee to narrow the price gap between low-sulfur oil (VLSFO) and future fuels. It also established a research institute, which has been established to help find practical solutions to decarbonization.

The gap between Maersk's goals and ICS's position appears to have caught the attention of Maersk headquarters. The Danish shipping giant has confirmed it will withdraw its board membership at ICS and move forward with its plans. "We review our membership annually to ensure that the industry body we belong to is aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement and other key issues," Maersk said in a statement. “As a result of the 2022 process, we have decided to support the strengthening of the carrier-centric World Shipping Council (WSC) and dedicate internal resources to this.” The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty aimed at limiting global warming by curbing global greenhouse gas emissions.

"Our choice to exit the ICS board should also be based on this," the company added, without specifying that it disagreed with the ICS position. It is understood that ICS has members from more than 40 countries, representing more than 80% of the world's commercial fleet. Maersk is not a direct member of ICS, but it is a member of the trade group Danish Shipping, which is a member of ICS. Maersk aims to have a carbon-neutral fleet by 2030 in order to meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The shipping industry carries about 80% of global trade and accounts for about 3% of global carbon emissions.