By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port of Seattle is to continue to offer incentives to ocean carriers and cruise lines that burn low sulphur fuel while berthed in Seattle harbour in 2014.
First launched in 2009, the port’s At Berth Clean (ABC) Fuels Program has rewarded operators who voluntarily use low sulphur fuels beyond the emissions control area (ECA) requirements.
In its final year, the ABC Fuels Program will offer a per metric ton incentive for vessels that achieve early compliance with 2015 ECA requirements to burn less than 0.1% sulphur fuel while berthed in the port. The incentive payout depends on the amount of fuel burned and could be up to US$7,400 per qualifying vessel call.
“ABC Fuels is one of the Port of Seattle’s most effective environmental programmes,” said Stephanie Bowman, commission co-president. “By providing incentives to burn low sulphur fuel while berthed at port, we’ve been able to remove more than 835 US tons of pollutants from Puget Sound air since 2009.”
Since 2009, participants have received more than US$3 million in incentives to burn low sulphur fuel while at berth in Seattle and the programme has eliminated more than 830 metric tons of sulphur dioxide emissions. Between 2005 and 2011, the ABC Fuels Program accounted for an estimated 76% of the total sulphur emission reductions in the Port of Seattle, according to the 2011 Puget Sound Maritime Emissions Inventory.
“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.”
Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines all participated in the programme from 2009 to 2013.