The Environmental Ship Index (ESI) is set to incorporate more work on CO2 in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislative developments to boost its effectiveness.
As the ESI’s user base has expanded to around 7000 vessels, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) working group has also decided to upgrade the IT system, including the current database of registered vessels and online portal, with a view to the investment supporting an increasing port and shipowner base and helping achieve the goals of the World Ports Sustainability Program.
Speaking about the group’s meeting last month, IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven commented: “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.”
ESI administrator Manfred Lebmeier (Senior Environmental Advisor, Hamburg Port Authority) stressed that “new forms of participation need to be developed, beyond the working group. We also need to prepare for the index to have its formula adapted to reflect IMO developments. These include the 2020 Sulfur cap and the 50% reduction target in CO2 emissions by 2050.”
The ESI is a voluntary tool which includes a formula-based evaluation of vessels’ nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions.
Source: Greenport