Japan’s port of Tokyo will waive an entry fee from April, for ships fueled by LNG and hydrogen, as well as LNG bunkering ships. This is an attempt to promote the use of cleaner marine fuels.
The exemption will apply for five years from April 1 until March 31, 2026., with the Tokyo metropolitan government informing the neighbouring ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki would also apply it to LNG-powered and LNG bunkering ships.
More specifically, the waiver aims to contribute to global efforts to increase the use of cleaner fuels and support faster development of hydrogen-powered ships.
Currently, LNG can be delivered to vessels in about 96 ports, including most of the main bunkering ports. Additionallt, 55 more ports are in the process of enabling LNG bunkering investments and operations, says SEA LNG.
Moreover, as of January 2020, there were 12 operating LNG bunkering ships, with 27 more on order and undergoing commissioning. The majority is planned to come into service within the next two years.
Lately, Japan is moving forward with several projects to support the country’s 2050 goals for decarbonization. To achieve this goal, Japan has been supporting research and development efforts for hydrogen-fueled ships, the first of which are under development currently.
