autoevolution 28 May 2021, 13:42 UTC ·
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There are many paths leading towards sustainable maritime transportation, and they vary from international regulations to green fuel research efforts. But incentives are, no doubt, one of the best ways to motivate companies in the maritime industry to switch to clean ships, especially since sustainable alternatives are usually seen as an extra cost.
The Port of Long Beach has been supporting the green revolution since 2012, when it launched its Green Ship Incentive Program. The program turned out to be successful, as vessel operators could count on an award for deploying ships that used cleaner alternatives to diesel.
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Ocean carriers with vessels calling at the Port of Long Beach are set to be be further incentivized to deploy their greenest ships.
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners earlier this month approved changes to the port’s Green Ship Incentive Program, launched in 2012, that incorporate the international Environmental Ship Index (ESI). The ESI is a voluntary system that identifies seagoing ships exceeding the current emission standards of the International Maritime Organization.
Beginning July 1, 2021, the updated program will include three incentive levels ranging from $600 to $6,000, depending on a vessel’s ESI score. Vessels with main engines meeting International Maritime Organization’s Tier III standard, which require dedicated NOx emission control technologies, are eligible for an additional $3,000 credit, meaning a vessel could be eligible for up to $9,000 on every call.