Circular Letters #10560

2017-02-01

Financial incentives for "green vessels" calling at some Canadian ports

Dear Member,

As you are aware, some Canadian ports have established an environmental incentive program to reward "green vessels".

Although the scope of such programs varies, the basic framework is the same, i.e., a port will offer rebates (e.g. discounted harbour dues) to vessels that meet certain environmental standards. Such standards include the use of "green technologies", cleaner fuels, and/or certification under various ship environmental programs (Green Marine, Green Award, Clean Shipping Index, RightShip, environmental notations by classification societies, etc.)

The following table provides a list of Canadian ports which have implemented an environmental incentive program and a description of the criteria to be met in order for a vessel to qualify.

PORTS

REBATES

CRITERIA TO BE MET

Port of Montreal

10% rebates on harbour dues

Apply only to some vessels certified under the Green Award Program, i.e.,

Dry bulk and tanker (crude and oil product) vessels with deadweight ≥ 22 000 metric tonnes
The port must be notified and a copy of the Green Award Certificate made available upon request

See section 3(2) of the Port of Montreal’s Harbour Fees Tariffs (Notice B-1) for details

Port of Sept Iles

10% rebates on harbour dues

Apply to ALL vessels certified under the Green Award Program:

A copy of the Green Award Certificate MUST be sent to the Port Authority with the vessel (A6) declaration
The Green Award Certificate must be valid during the entire stay of the vessel and submitted for each port call

See section 4(5) and Annex 1 of the Port of Sept Iles’ Harbour Dues Tariffs (Notice N-2) for details

Port of Vancouver

A vessel may qualify for one of three levels of rebates, depending on the vessel’s environmental performance:

Bronze: 23%
Silver: 35%
Gold : 47%

A vessel may qualify for discounted harbour dues under one of the three categories (bronze, silver, gold) based on several criteria, including:

Use of “cleaner fuels” (natural gas, biodiesel blend)
Implementation of specific emission reduction and energy efficient technologies (above regulatory requirements)
Implementation of “ship quieting technologies” (three propeller technologies)
Participation in ship sustainability programs (Green Marine, Environmental Ship Index, Clean Shipping Index, RightShip, Energy Efficiency Design Index, and Green Award)
Environmental notations from ship classification societies

Application can be made on a ship call basis or through an annual declaration

See EcoAction Program for details

Port of Prince Rupert

A vessel may qualify for one of three levels of rebates, depending on the vessel’s environmental performance:

Tier 1: 10%
Tier 2: 20%
Tier 3 : 50%

A vessel may qualify for discounted harbour dues under one of the three tiers – based on:

Participation in a ship sustainability program (Green Marine, RightShip, Environmental Ship Index, Energy Efficiency Design Index, Clean Shipping Index, and Green Award); or
Environmental notations from ship classification societies for quiet ships (SILENT notation from DNV-GL, DOLPHIN notation from RINA, Underwater Radiated Noise notation from Bureau Veritas)

See 2017 Green Wave Program for details and application form

Other Canadian ports are considering the introduction of similar environmental incentive programs in the coming years and we will update the list accordingly, as new incentives are being implemented.

We will also compile similar information on some of the main U.S. ports, as a refence tool for vessels calling at different ports in North America.

The information will be be added to our website in the near future.

Sincerely,

Sonia Simard
Director, Legislative and Environmental Affairs