Reduced port fees for ships using green fuels in Rotterdam

Ships bunkering alternative fuels such as green methanol and ammonia in Rotterdam will qualify for reduced port fees.

PHOTO: PHOTO: Methanol bunkering of A.P. Moller-Maersk's methanol-fuelled feeder vessel at the Port of Rotterdam in September. OCI

The port fee reduction can go up to €500,000 ($526,000) for a large container ship that bunkers alternative fuels in the port, the Port of Rotterdam Authority said.

However, ships that bunker conventional marine fuels or biofuel blends in the port will not be eligible for the port fee reduction. The market for conventional marine fuel and biofuel is already mature in Rotterdam, the port authority argued.

The Port of Rotterdam stated that the initiative aims to support the recently announced Zero Emissions Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA), which supports early adopters of green fuels. Major retailers such as Amazon, IKEA and Nike are part of the ZEMBA consortium.

“The ZEMBA consortium has launched a fantastic initiative with a willingness to pay carriers a premium for the use of zero-emission fuels, which are still more expensive than traditional fuels,” the Port of Rotterdam chief executive Boudewijn Siemons said.

Since 2015, the Port of Rotterdam has been offering discounts on seaport dues for ships that are able to attain high scores on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI). The ESI is an international benchmark for emissions from seagoing vessels.

“Vessels that perform better than the legal norm will be rewarded a 10% discount on the gross tonnage part of the port dues,” according to the Port of Rotterdam’s website. It also grants an additional discount for ships that have recorded their noise levels.

By Nithin Chandran

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