Carbon emissions could rise as much as 500% in 2015
According to the Carbon War Room, the number of ports using ship-evaluation systems to reduce carbon emissions could rise as much as 500 per cent in 2015.
Up to 10 ports will cut fees for vessels designed and maintained to minimise fuel consumption next year, compared with two currently.
Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, will begin looking at how it can promote more energy efficient vessels, according to a port authority statement.
Branson, a Carbon War Room founder, said: “That will speed up the move from shippers to try to move towards clean ships rather than dirty ships. It’s just a cog in the wheel to sorting out the much bigger problem of the environmental damage from carbon.“
Shipping accounted for an estimated 2.7 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2007, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ shipping agency.
Rotterdam discounts port fees to vessels which emit low levels of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. The port is researching how to extend the port-fee discount programme to low-carbon emitting ships, according to the statement.
The ship efficiency data rankings were developed by RightShip, a marine and environmental risk management system, and the Carbon War Room.
Branson said: “The adoption of the War Room’s A-G rating by Rotterdam and more of the world’s top 100 ports would create an incentive market for carbon efficient ships worth over US$100 million to shipowners.“
Source: CLIMATE ACTION
