The US Coast Guard informed that, as of this month, Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy, has begun signing certificates for ships receiving the E-Zero designation on their QUALSHIP 21 certificate.
There are approximately 10,000 distinct foreign ships that call to U.S. ports annually. Of those, only 1,500 meet the stringent criteria for enrollment in the QUALSHIP 21 program.
The new E-Zero designation further recognizes QUALSHIP 21 ships for achievement of a higher level of environmental compliance and sustained performance.
Approximately 15 percent of existing QUALSHIP 21 ships are expected to receive the E-Zero designation. This designation signifies they have not been subject to any worldwide MARPOL detentions or any environmental deficiencies in the U.S. in the past three years as well as other criteria.
A complete list of ships with the E-Zero designation will be posted at the end of each month, USCG informed.
