A container shipping lobby has urged the creation of a research body to help establish commercially viable low-emission fuels.

The World Shipping Council will soon table the pro­posals for discussion to the IMO, ­president and chief executive John Butler said.

Speaking at the Container Trade Europe conference in Hamburg, he said international research into measures to replace fossil ­fuels is “critical” if shipping is to reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.