Ports of Sweden gathered about twenty people from ports around Sweden to create an increased insight and an exchange of knowledge regarding the application of environmental incentives in the port tax. The development of recent years, how to be able to cooperate for the best effect and what environmental incentives we may see in the future were some of the topics that was discussed.
Port of Gävle offer discounts for ships with good environmental performance to create incentives for shipping companies to become more environmentally friendly. Environmental incentives have existed för several years but have made new progress in recent years. Port of Gävle has offered discounts for over 29 years and today these are based on the environmental classification ESI (Environmental Ship Index) and CSI (Clean Shipping Index) as well as a discount for LNG operation.
– To give ships that have a better environmental performance by having some type of environmental differentiation in the port tariff is a matter of course for us, says Henrik Rosengren, Environmental Engineer at Gävle Hamn AB.
Port of Gävle, like other ports around Sweden, plays a significant role in global shipping. Which is responsible for a large part of the global emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides that contribute to the acidification of oceans and forests. Environmentally differentiated fees are an important parameter for a sustainable environmental discount system where ports use the same environmental index. A more coordinated system increases the motivation for shipping companies to register for the index as it is seen as a long-term investment.
– If we have large and strong established indexes that are used by several ports, we act to lower the threshold together and drive the green transition in the right direction, continues Henrik Rosengren.
