New ESI module

The project, which kicked off last Monday (21 February), will add a new module to the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) Environmental Ship Index comprising a reporting model and an at-berth performance and emissions indicator.

Led by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Amsterdam, the project will initially focus on the cruise industry, bringing on board representatives from the industry together with ports and website design company, Nalta. The aim is to have the module up and running by 2023.

“The ESI At-Berth module will bring ESI to the next level by also assessing and rewarding actual performance related to each port call,” said IAPH managing director, Patrick Verhoeven.

“This will feed port emission inventories and will trigger further emissions reduction through the voluntary application of incentives by the ESI ports.”

The ESI was established in 2011 and identifies seagoing ships that perform better than required by the current emission standards of the International Maritime Organization. With 6,908 vessels registered, ESI is an automated environmental performance system for ships which potentially results in lower port dues or fees for vessels calling at ports registered as an ESI-incentive provider.

ESI-air scores vessels on their NOx and SOx performance, and rewards vessels that are equipped with onshore power supply. A separate module, ESI-noise, scores reduced noise of vessels, calculating a fixed bonus for a noise reduction measurement report.