Starting in 2018, all ships that use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as their primary fuel can apply for a discount of four percent on tonnage fees when calling at harbors of the Port of Tallinn.
With this move, the port intends to contribute to the adoption of environmentally friendlier technologies in the Baltic Sea shipping sector.
“Similarly to other ports in the European Union and Norway, the Port of Tallinn has set a course toward environmentally differentiated port fees, with the aim of reducing the amount of air pollution and marine pollution from ships’ waste handling and gaseous emissions,” Ellen Kaasik, Head of Quality & Environmental Management Department at the Port of Tallinn , explained.
“While currently cruise ships that sort their waste receive a discount on the waste fee, next year we will introduce a discount on port infrastructure fees for all ships that use LNG as their primary fuel,” Kaasik added.
The Port of Tallinn also supports other initiatives and investments aimed at adopting cleaner technologies in the shipping sector. Specifically, the port provides incentives for ships that have invested in scrubbers for reducing sulphur compounds in emissions and accepts the waste generated by scrubbers without charging additional fees.
What is more, Kaasik said the port plans to implement the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) energy performance system, which has been used in some EU and Norwegian ports. It is based on the emissions of nitrogen compounds (NOx), sulphur compounds (SOx), solid particles (PM) and CO2 and takes into account whether ships are connected to shoreline power and the use of power at ports.
The implementation of differentiated port fees in various EU ports and a study regarding the impacts are part of the Green Cruise Port project co-financed by the EU through the INTERREG BSR program, which unites ports and cruise tourism sector companies in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea countries.