The Port of Amsterdam announced that it will offer double discounts on port dues to ships that have Environmental Ship Index (ESI) certificate and use LNG as fuel as of August 1, 2018.
The move is part of the port’s policy of providing discounts to ships listed in the ESI that have attained an ESI score of 20 points or higher.
“The Port of Amsterdam regards LNG as a vital transitional fuel which currently serves as the best alternative for the shipping industry. In order to encourage vessel operators to start using this fuel, we will be providing an additional discount starting August 1. We also aim to have a bunker pontoon for LNG in place in the Port of Amsterdam by the end of 2018,” the port said.
The pontoon will have the ability to deliver LNG in a range from 30 to 600 cbm per hour and will have two 380 cbm tanks, with the option of adding two more tanks.
The project is in line with the Port of Amsterdam’s ambitions of reducing emissions in the port through its Clean Shipping Vision for 2030. The vision targets reduction of emissions of docked sea cruise ships by 50 percent by 2018, along with emission cuts from ships and those associated with port activities such as loading and unloading.
The port plans to invest EUR 10 million until 2021 into its infrastructure, including LNG bunkering facilities and ship-to-shore power, to achieve these objectives.
The port believes the introduction of the discount will help to advance its mission of encouraging the 50,000 seagoing vessels, cruise ships and barges that call on the port annually to operate more efficiently and environmentally-friendly.