On Thursday, a group of leading shipping companies, including Greek shipping industry champions, said they wanted changes a planned UN agreement aimed at slashing fuel emissions from ships, after the United States had signalled opposition to the pact, which had added an element of uncertainty to the draft.

The global shipping industry accounts for nearly 3% of global carbon emissions, and the proposed deal is crucial for accelerating the decarbonization of the industry through a robust regulatory framework.

The group of companies, which include some of the world's largest oil tanker operators such as Cyprus-based Frontline and Saudi Arabia'sri, said they had "serious concerns" about the so-called Net-Zero Framework that the UN's International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Environmental Committee is to agree next month.

"As it stands, we do not believe that the IMO Net-Zero Framework can effectively drive decarbonization in our industry nor can it the level playing field as intended," the companies said in a joint statement to Reuters on Thursday. "We believe that substantial changes are required before the framework can be adopted, including of feasible pathways for emissions reduction."

In April, countries agreed on a draft deal that would impose a fee on ships that emit excessive carbon.

In September, United States told countries it opposed the deal, and could impose tariffs, visa restrictions and port charges if it went ahead, three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters [INS! U.S. threatens tariffs on nations that go ahead with shipping emissions deal].

Any agreement must avoid "placing an excessive financial burden and inflationary pressure on the consumer," the joint statement said.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said he was confident the deal would be adopted next month.

"My comes from the track record of this organization, from the way we work together, and from the fact that we all realize that there are still some challenges and concerns that need to be," he said at a Capital Link shipping conference in London on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, during London International Shipping Week, Greek Shipping Minister Vassilis Kilias told Dominguez the deal needs improvement.

"The minister stressed his acknowledgement of the concerns of the industry," the Greek Shipping Ministry said in a statement

It is not clear whether the deal will pass if opposition grows, or if IMO members abstain, the sources told Reuters.

Nearly 90% of trade is carried out by sea, and the shipping industry's carbon emissions would soar without a deal on a mechanism to agree.

Companies including Capital Group, T Group, Centrofin, Marine Trust, Trust Bulkers, Common Progress, Dynacom, Dynagas, Emarat Maritime, Gaslog, Hanwh Shipping, Angelicoussis Group, Seapeak, and Stolt Tankers also co-signed the statement