The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) signed a contract with the Green Award Foundation to administer and manage the more-than 8,400-strong database of ships and 59 incentive providers already registered on the index.
To remind, IAPH’s Environmental Ship Index Portal (ESI) enables ports and other interested parties to incentivise ships to use cleaner engines and fuels with preferential treatment offered either through discounts on port dues, bonuses or other benefits commensurate with a specified level of cleanliness.
ESI is a voluntary tool which includes a formula-based evaluation of vessels’ nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions. The calculation also rewards vessels that are equipped to use available onshore power and which demonstrate fuel efficiency improvements over time, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Now, it is reported that this agreement will improve the ESI in terms of full-time administrative support, governance and further expansion.
IAPH Technical Director Antonis Michail commented that
In partnership with Green Award, we aim to expand the range of potential emissions including greenhouse gases in the calculation and will further enhance the separate noise emission functionality. Right now, the strongest representation we have on the Index comes from the container shipping sector, with over half of the world fleet registered. Tankers (gas, chemical and oil) are also well represented with 28% of the world fleet. The focus will be on growing the number of registered dry bulk and general cargo vessels as well as ro-ro and cruise vessels.
It is concluded that by January, owners and owner-operators with ships registered on ESI will be approached directly by the Green Award team for certification updates and will also be informed about the new subscription fee scheme that will be implemented to finance further user improvements and the further development of the Index.
