There was an 83% increase on ships at the Port of Gothenburg which received environmental discounts on port charges last years.
One in three vessels that called at the port in 2016 were classified as green and Gothenburg rewarded vessels that were high environmental performers.
The discount is based on two separate environmental indexes, Environmental Ship Index and Clean Shipping Index (see fact file below). Vessels that have a score of at least 30 according to ESI, or which are classified as green according to CSI, receive a 10% discount on the port charges.
Edvard Molitor, environmental manager at Gothenburg Port Authority, said: “The growing number of vessels classified as green is highly encouraging. They are also vessels that call at the port on a regular basis.”
He added: “Swedish shipping companies are very much at the forefront when it comes to LNG, methanol, hybrid electric ships and other eco-smart solutions.”
An additional discount is available for vessels that run on LNG, which reduces emissions of sulphur and particles to almost zero and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85-90%.
In total, these vessels receive a 30% discount each time they call. In 2016, two vessels received the maximum discount, these were Ternsund and Fure West, owned by Donsö-based shipping companies Tärntank Ship Management AB and Furetank AB.
The current environmental discount was first introduced on January 1, 2015. The aim is for shipping companies to be encouraged to mitigate their environmental impact in a way that goes beyond laws and regulations.
Mr Molitor concluded: “We want to reward the shipping companies for their green initiatives. For the average freight vessel, the environmental discount could result in savings of tens of thousands of kronor.”
soucre: GreenPort
