The shipping industry is facing an increase in new regulations from the International Maritime Organization and the European Union  and an increase in the urgency to decarbonise. To support the industry, BIMCO has developed a portfolio of new emission trading scheme  clauses.

BIMCO’s Documentary Committee adopted a new Emission Trading Scheme Allowances Clause for BIMCO’s ship management agreement, SHIPMAN, and three ETS clauses for Voyage Charter Parties which were published on 8 December. The clauses aim to facilitate collaboration and provide clarity and certainty between parties as new regulations come into force, changing the way the industry operates to achieve compliance and cut emissions.

“In less than one month, our industry will be included in the EU ETS, and in the future, we can expect similar emission schemes. The new ETS clauses have been developed to help parties meet the requirements of the EU ETS as well as any applicable emission scheme we may face in the future,” says Nicholas Fell, Chairperson of BIMCO’s Documentary Committee.

On 1 January 2024, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) will be extended to cover CO₂ emissions from ships of 5,000 GT and above calling EU ports, regardless of flag. Ships engaged in voyages between two EU ports, and voyages between the EU and a third country, will be covered by the EU ETS.

BIMCO’s new ETS clauses have been developed for use with any applicable emission scheme, including, but not limited to, the EU ETS. This is done to ensure that the clause can be used with other schemes that may come into force in the future.

“The purpose of the ETS clause for SHIPMAN is to allocate costs and responsibilities between owners and managers, thereby facilitating compliance with emission trading schemes. This includes the reporting of emission data, as well as the transfer and surrender of emission allowances for ships operating under an emission scheme,” says Stinne Taiger Ivø, Director, Contracts & Support at BIMCO.

The clause has been developed for inclusion in the upcoming revision of SHIPMAN (expected to be published during the first half of 2024) and as a freestanding clause for use with SHIPMAN 2009.

BIMCO’s Documentary Committee also adopted three ETS clauses for voyage charter parties which are an ETS – Emission Scheme Freight Clause for Voyage Charter Parties 2023, an ETS – Emission Scheme Surcharge Clause for Voyage Charter Parties 2023 and an ETS – Emission Scheme Transfer of Allowances Clause for Voyage Charter Parties 2023.

“Our three new clauses have been developed with the aim of providing industry stakeholders with flexibility to use the clauses that are best suited for their specific trade and business,” says Stinne Taiger Ivø.

All four BIMCO clauses, together with accompanying explanatory notes, are available here: BIMCO clauses

Other already published carbon clauses from BIMCO include the Emission Trading Scheme Allowances Clause for Time Charter Parties, CII Clause for Voyage Charter Parties, CII Operations Clause for Time Charter Parties and the EEXI Transition Clause for Time Charter Parties.

In addition, a BIMCO subcommittee is currently working on the development of an ETS clause for Contracts of Affreightment.