THE International Maritime Organization may postpone the final vote on its Net-Zero Framework rather than risk seeing the carbon price deal collapse amid hardening political divisions within the United Nations agency.

Lloyd’s List understands that a proposal to put the NZF into “abeyance” is being considered by influential member states after negotiations on Thursday suggested that the IMO’s 176 member states were evenly split.

Sustained pressure from the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other oil-producing countries appears to have increased the number of governments planning to abstain from, or vote against, adoption at a probable vote on Friday.

The EU27, which votes at IMO as a bloc, was also facing a rebellion on Thursday with its two largest maritime states, Greece and Cyprus, both understood to be considering switching from Yes to Abstain in defiance of Brussels.

Representatives from each of the states initially declined to comment in advance of any vote, however sources with knowledge of the matter confirmed that the EU vote would likely not be unanimous.

That would be unprecedented within IMO meetings.

Initial reports that Malta were also considering joining Greece in Cyprus later proved to be incorrect and government representatives described reports of their potential abstention as “incorrect”.

Lloyd’s List understands that the proposal to put NZF adoption into abeyance, effectively a procedural pause with no time limit, comes from senior figures within the IMO secretariat.

Closed-door negotiations among member states on Thursday evening will decide whether the plan is put forward on Friday.

This would probably be tabled by a member state rather than the secretariat, with China a likely candidate with sufficient political influence to get the plan agreed, sources said.

But the plan would also face strong opposition from the NZF’s opponents, who now believe they have the numbers to kill the deal if a vote goes ahead.

Some states have walked back their support for the NZF after months of sustained US pressure, including threats of port levies, visa restrictions and tariffs.

States representing the largest flags in the world have remained quiet during this week’s meeting. But Lloyd’s List understands states representing well over 50% of global tonnage now either plan to abstain or vote against adoption.

Sources said if the NZF is rejected on Friday, there is no way to revive it.

Putting the hard-won climate deal into abeyance would mean more time to find compromises that supporters hope would preserve a path to adoption.

But the NZF is considered dead if it is voted down, or if it’s adopted under different rules that would imperil its entry into force, as the US is separately advocating.

Given the finely balanced division within the IMO this week, officials within several member states remain concerned that even if a deal was passed, the thin majority could easily be derailed following a vote this week.

Once adopted, the framework would then go through a 10-month acceptance period where states agree to implement it into their national laws.

That process can still be overturned if states representing 50% of global tonnage object in writing.

The IMO meeting to adopt the NZF is due to conclude on Friday.