The Global Ro-Ro Community (GRC), which includes major Ro-Ro carriers and represents about 80% of the world's car carrier fleet capacity, has formed the GRC Council (GRCC). This new council will be responsible for overseeing methodologies for vessel emissions accounting and establishing data handling rules. The primary objective is to create a more robust environment where Ro-Ro operators, cargo owners, and vehicle manufacturers can access and utilize transparent and dependable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data.
Since its inception, the GRC has collaborated with the classification society ClassNK, which has served as an independent verifier. ClassNK also played a role in developing the GRC Governance Framework and the associated data handling regulations. This structured approach is intended to ensure consistency and accuracy in reporting emissions.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this development signifies a move towards greater standardization in emissions reporting for the automotive logistics sector. Reliable GHG data can become increasingly important for compliance, especially with evolving environmental regulations like the EU ETS. It may also influence carrier selection for shippers focused on supply chain sustainability, potentially leading to increased demand for carriers demonstrating transparent and verified emissions data. This could also impact how emissions are calculated and reported in freight forwarding management systems, requiring updates to align with GRC Council standards.
