PRESS RELEASE: With a user base now approaching the 7,000 vessel mark and recognised by over 50 ports worldwide, the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) is rapidly becoming the standard tool used by the world’s ports to reward and incentivise shipowners with vessels that meet and exceed IMO emissions standards.
Established back in 2011 and first introduced by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) in 2013, the ESI is a voluntary tool which includes a formula-based evaluation of vessels’ nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions. The calculation also rewards vessels that are equipped to use available onshore power and which demonstrate fuel efficiency improvements over time, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Following the launch of the World Ports Sustainability Program earlier in March this year, the IAPH working group focussed on the further development of the ESI met in Marseilles in June and agreed to invest in upgrading the current IT system. This includes the current database of registered vessels as well as the online portal itself.
IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven commented on the June meeting in Marseilles: “The Working Group has agreed to widen the scope and fundamentals of the ESI , including further in-depth work on CO2 based on the IMO strategic approach as well as engaging with shipowners who already use the index to see how we can make it easier to use. Following from points raised at the recent IMO special event for ports earlier this month, the ESI will be a vital tool in achieving the priorities set out in our World Ports Sustainability Program.”
Through ESI, ports and other interested parties can promote ships to use cleaner engines and fuels and with preferential treatment offered either through discounts on port dues, bonuses or other benefits commensurate with the level of cleanliness.Score ranges from 0 for a ship that meets the environmental performance regulations in force to 100 for a ship that emits no SOX and no NOX and reports or monitors data to establish its energy efficiency; in other words a ship with a score of 0 points is actually in conformity with the applicable requirements and the ship with 100 points is amongst the best-performing vessels currently at sea today.
The Environment Ship Index Working Group, meeting in Marseilles last month
