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Over one hundred sea-going ships have applied for the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), which is due to launch later this week. The vessels vary from coasters to new-generation container vessels.

On 1 January 2011, the World Ports Climate Initiative website will become operational. Then it will be known exactly how many ships are eligible for the certificate and the ports can begin to pay out the premiums.

The ESI is a certificate that, as of 1 January 2011, will be awarded by the World Ports Climate Initiative at the ship’s request (see www.environmentalshipindex.org). The ESI was designed by the ports of Le Havre, Bremen, Hamburg, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The index shows the environmental performance of ships in terms of the emission of air pollutants (NOx and SOx) and CO2. The ESI will aim to provide an indication of the environmental performance of ocean going vessels and assist in identifying cleaner ships.

Ports and other nautical service providers all over the world can use the index to reward ships and, in this way, encourage sustainable behaviour in the shipping industry.

In the meantime, the ports of Amsterdam, Moerdijk, Dordrecht and Rotterdam have stated that their premiums next year will take the form of discounts on sea harbour dues.

Last week the port of Rotterdam announced that Oslo would also be taking part in the ESI. The ports of Antwerp, Hamburg and Bremen have also announced their intention to use the index.