Port of Gothenburg Calls Growing Number of Green Vessels "Highly Encouraging"

Edvard Molitor, of the Gothenburg Port Authority, says Swedish companies are on the "forefront" eco-smart solutions.

The Port of Gothenburg today called a growing number of vessels classified as "green" visiting the port, including those powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), "highly encouraging."

"Swedish shipping companies are very much at the forefront when it comes to LNG (liquefied natural as), methanol, hybrid electric ships and other eco-smart solutions," said Edvard Molitor, Environmental Manager at Gothenburg Port Authority.

The port says one in every three ships at Gothenburg received an environmental discount on port charges in 2016, marking an 83 percent increase from the previous year.

Overall, 75 vessels received a discount of 10 percent on the port dues in 2016, compared to just 41 during the previous year.

The discount is noted to be based on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and Clean Shipping Index (CSI), with vessels that have an ESI score of at least 30, or that are classified as green under CSI, eligible to receive a 10 percent discount on the port charges.

"The growing number of vessels classified as green is highly encouraging. They are also vessels that call at the port on a regular basis," said Molitor.

"We want to reward the shipping companies for their green initiatives. For the average freight vessel, the environmental discount could result in savings of tens of thousands of kronor."

The port also highlighted an additional discount intended for vessels that run on LNG, with Ternsund and Fure West, owned by Tärntank Ship Management AB and Furetank AB, noted to have received the associated maximum 30 percent discount.

"By using LNG as a marine fuel, emissions of sulfur and particles are reduced to almost zero and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85-90 percent. There is also a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions," said the port.

In September, the Port of Gothenburg announced a "historic milestone," with not only the ports, but Sweden's first LNG bunkering operation, which saw the newly constructed tanker Ternsund bunkered by Belgian bunkering vessel Coral Energy.