MAMII Urges EU to Act on Methane Ahead of the European Shipping Summit

• With new methane rules set for approval at the IMO’s MEPC 83 meeting, MAMII urges the EU to integrate them into FuelEU Maritime.
• In an open letter, MAMII warns that methane-cutting technologies need clear regulatory incentives and fair emissions assessments.
• To drive progress, MAMII calls for investment, trials, and stronger emissions tracking, including OGMP 2.0 to improve methane performance and help reduce LNG’s GHG intensity further.

20 March 2025 – The EU must strengthen its approach to methane reduction in shipping by adopting policies that support innovation and align with new IMO guidelines, says the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII)

In an open letter, MAMII calls on the EU to integrate the new IMO guidelines – set for approval at the upcoming MEPC 83 meeting – into FuelEU Maritime. The group also stresses the need for a technology-neutral regulatory framework that recognizes emerging solutions and creates the right incentives for their adoption.

MAMII warns that methane-cutting technologies are advancing fast, but without targeted policies, progress could stall. From next-generation and upgraded engines to fuel cells, emissions monitoring, and leak prevention, solutions exist – but need recognition, incentives, and real-world validation to scale.

To ensure effective methane reduction, MAMII calls for:
Investment support to help commercialize methane-cutting technologies as part of the EU clean tech sector.
Proof-of-concept trials to test and validate emerging solutions, informing future regulations.
Stronger emissions tracking, with OGMP 2.0 monitoring will improve the methane performance and help reduce LNG’s GHG intensity further.
MAMII also stresses that emissions rules must account for real-world variations in engine performance, load, and efficiency to ensure fair and effective regulation.

 

MAMII chair Panos Mitrou said:

“With the IMO set to approve new methane guidelines, the EU has a key opportunity to strengthen its own approach. Clear, science-based policies can accelerate innovation, support real-world trials, and ensure methane measurement and reduction technologies are put to use. Without targeted action, we could penalise the frontrunners, jeopardise innovation and development, block uptake, and miss the opportunity for immediate savings in methane emissions.”

 

Launched in 2022 by Safetytech Accelerator, MAMII brings together shipping leaders, technology innovators, and maritime stakeholders to advance methane measurement and abatement solutions.

With over 20 major shipping and energy companies as partners – plus a network of 100+ tech providers, more than half based in the EU – MAMII is driving industry-wide change through real-world pilots and policy engagement.

 

ENDS

 

(This letter represents the views and opinions of MAMII as a whole. However, it may not necessarily reflect the views of all individual members.)

 

Letter:

 

Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII):
EU Regulation and Investment to reduce methane emissions in maritime

The EU needs to encourage the maritime industry to reduce methane emissions, using a balanced approach with a technology centric and neutral regulatory framework that will incentivise development and uptake of technology in alignment with IMO work and practice. New IMO guidelines due to be approved at the 83rd IMO MEPC meeting can form the basis for relevant guidelines to be introduced under FuelEU Maritime.

In this context, it should be possible to recognise the continuous stream of technologies that are being made available to reduce methane emissions, whether they be:

• the latest model versions of engines,

• upgrades to existing engines,

• alternative energy conversion systems and energy stores (i.e. fuel cells and batteries),

• aftermarket abatement technologies,

• Optimized operations to minimize emissions

• Upgrades and technology to monitor and avert fugitive methane emissions

• Incentives for well to tank methane performance certification schemes

 

Emissions calculations need to account for variations in machinery type, engine loads and efficiency, recognizing that different engine technologies, operations and onboard systems lead to varying methane emissions.

Proof of concepts and testing of new technologies (and variations on parent engines) will be important contributors in the short term, while in parallel, encouraging the development of regulations and standards for improving methane monitoring and measurement.

On the well to tank end, the implementation of OGMP 2.0 monitoring guidelines will improve the methane performance and help reduce LNG’s GHG intensity further.

MAMII is willing to lead the way and its Partners keen to support and trial this approach based on scientific data across a large diverse fleet of ships.

In addition, further EU investment support should target the industrialisation and commercialisation of methane abatement and measurement as part of the EU clean tech sector.

MAMII is happy to work with EU institutions to outline a path forward with tangible measures to help the successful take up of methane abatement tech for the maritime sector.

Methane Abatement in Maritime innovation initiative (MAMII) was launched in September 2022 by Safetytech Accelerator, bringing together industry leaders, technology innovators, and maritime stakeholders to advance technologies for measuring and mitigating methane emissions in the maritime sector and promote the adoption of validated solutions.

It currently has 20+ leading shipping and energy companies as Anchor Partners and a technology ecosystem of over 100 companies, more than half of which are EU based. It runs pilots and helps ship owner and operators engage with technology companies.

This letter represents the views and opinions of MAMII as a whole. However, it may not necessarily reflect the views of all individual members.