The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has 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.
Under the auspices of the IAPH’s World Ports Sustainability Program, the 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 that demonstrate fuel efficiency improvements over time, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) emissions.
“The agreement IAPH has signed is designed to take the Environmental Ship Index to the next level in terms of full-time administrative support, governance and further expansion,” says IAPH technical director Antonis Michail. “The ESI has become the established standard upon which port authorities and maritime administrations incentivise shipowners and shipowner- operators to continuously improve the environmental performance of the fleets calling at their terminals. 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.”
Established in 1994, Green Award is a global, independent, non-profit quality assurance organisation with the primary task of certifying ship managers and vessels that go beyond the industry standards in terms of safety, quality and environmental performance.
