Americas News
Seattle Sets New Incentives for Low-Sulfur Fuel Use
The Port of Seattle says it is switching to a new formula for incentivising ships to use low sulfur fuel while moored in Seattle harbour.
The At Berth Clean (ABC) Fuels program started in 2009 and has already provided more than $3 million in incentives, eliminating more than 830 metric tonnes (mt) of sulfur dioxide (SOx) emissions.
This year, the program will switch to a "per metric tonne" incentive for ships that comply early with the emissions control area (ECA) 2015 requirement to burn fuel with no more than 0.10 percent sulfur.
Depending on the amount of fuel used, the port could provide as much as $7,400 per vessel call.
"The ABC Fuels program is helping reduce pollutants in the Puget Sound region in advance of important international regulations to reduce harmful diesel emissions," said Craig Kenworthy, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
"The Port of Seattle is a proactive steward of environmental practices, and we look forward to more progress in the future."
More than 1,274 visits from 12 container and cruise lines were part of the program between 2009 and 2013.
The participating lines are APL, COSCO, Evergreen Line, Hamburg Sud, Hapag Lloyd, Maersk Line, Matson Navigation, OOCL, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruise Lines.
Last year, the Port of Seattle joined the Green Marine Program and set new emissions goals together with the Port of Tacoma and Port Metro Vancouver.
