IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez has called on member states to find common ground on the stalled Net Zero Framework (NZF) the global decarbonization tax, reports the UK's Seatrade Maritime News.

The NZF was expected to be approved at MEPC 83 last October, but lobbying by US and Saudi delegations led to a one-year delay. Mr Dominguez said the organisation must focus on substance in light of global climate negotiations and COP30 outcomes in Brazil.

Key concerns include how funds collected from the industry will be distributed and rules governing LNG and biofuels. Some shipowners argue LNG should be treated as a transitional fuel, warning that strict penalties on methane emissions could make it uneconomic. Others favour efficiency gains through technologies such as Mewis ducts, air lubrication, wind power and weather routing.

Mr Dominguez explained that the extraordinary MEPC session had been suspended rather than cancelled, with the committee to decide when to resume. He acknowledged three camps among members: those supporting the NZF, those willing to accept it with reservations, and those with significant concerns.

Despite divisions, Mr Dominguez stressed that IMO's 2023 strategy remains intact, with objectives reaffirmed at the last assembly. He said the organisation's mandate is to protect the environment and find compromises while respecting differing views.

Earlier this month the US announced plans to withdraw from 66 international organisations, including the UN climate convention, but not from the IMO. Mr Dominguez rejected claims that the US stayed in the IMO to block the NZF, noting Washington's December statement praised the organisation's work on safety, sustainability and environmental protection.