Introduction
The potential for climate change due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is quite high and transport through ports and port operations are contributors. Additionally, stricter air quality standards and concern for nearby residents prompt port authorities to take stricter measures to improve air quality in their ports.
Fifty-five of the world’s key ports have committed themselves reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while continuing their role as transportation and economic centres. This commitment is called the World Port Climate Initiative (WPCI, www.wpci.nl). They do this through influencing the sustainability of supply chains, taking into account local circumstances and varying port management structures. They also cooperate with ships in support of measures to reduce emissions to air from ships.
One of the projects within WPCI is the development of an Environmental Ship Index (ESI). The Environmental Ship Index (ESI) identifies seagoing ships that perform better in reducing air emissions than required by the current emission standards of the International Maritime Organization, the Environmental Ship Index. The ESI evaluates the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulphur oxide (SOx) that is released by a ship and includes a reporting scheme on the greenhouse gas emission of the ship. The ESI is a good indication of the environmental performance of ocean going vessels and will assist in identifying cleaner ships in a general way.
The index is intended to be used by ports to reward ships when they participate in the ESI and will promote clean ships, but can also be used by shippers and ship owners as their own promotional instrument. It should be noted that while ESI will provide a total score, the rewards can either be based on that total or on each of its constituent parts separately. The program is completely voluntary and WPCI hopes that the global port community will assume its role in improving the maritime and port environment. Finally all stakeholders in maritime transport can use the ESI as a means to improve their environmental performance and as an instrument to reach their sustainability goals (see figure).
