Share this article 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.