Shenzhen Subsidizing Green Shipping

Shenzhen City Government plans to spend 200 million yuan (USD 32 million) each year to subsidize energy-saving and emission-reduction measures for port and shipping companies.

The measures eligible for the government subsidies include construction, using onshore power supply facilities and upgrading to low-sulphur fuel. Port and shipping companies can choose whether they will adopt the new measures.

“Shenzhen is the world’s third-largest container port. Port and ship emissions have become the major source of air pollutants in the city,” Li Shuisheng, deputy chief of the city’s environmental protection administration, said at a press conference at Shenzhen Civic Center in Futian District.

Most ships berth at Shenzhen port are powered by heavy oil containing about 3 percent sulphur, which emits about 16,000 tons of sulphur dioxides each year, accounting for more than 65 percent of the city’s total, according to Li.

“The use of onshore power supplies during berthing and the use of low-sulphur fuel will definitely reduce air pollutant emissions,” said Li.

Li said it would be difficult to encourage the use of onshore power supplies, which means increased costs for shipping companies.

“However, it will be comparatively easy to promote the use of low-sulphur fuel,” said Li.

Li added that, although government subsidies are not the best way to address pollution, they are the most effective way to fight it.

Christine Loh, deputy director of the Environmental Protection Department in Hong Kong, said at the press conference that Hong Kong is making a law to restrict ship and port emissions.

The fourth-largest container port in the world, Hong Kong also subsidized port and shipping companies that voluntarily carry out energy-saving and emission-reducation measures.

Loh pledged close cooperation with Shenzhen to improve the environment.

Several shipping and port companies released a “Green Shipping Shenzhen Declaration” to call on more peers to become environmentally friendly.

Among the companies are Shekou Container Terminals Ltd., Yantian International Container Terminals and A.P. Moller-Marsk.

The companies pledged in the declaration to accelerate the construction of onshore power supply facilities, promote the use of low-sulphur fuel, strive for new technology and construct new vessels with lower emissions.