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Fifteen vessels have already been signed up for the Port of Gothenburg's initiative for a cleaner marine and air environment. The vessels are operated by bunker suppliers Stena Oil and Topoil AB and shipping firms TransAtlantic and Tärntank AB.

The new initiative offers a financial compensation to vessels that opt to use cleaner fuels whilst in port waters. Vessels which are classified as 'green' according to an international index are also compensated.

The Port of Gothenburg has for several years levied a surcharge on vessels where the sulphur content of the fuel is higher than 0.5 percent. Following consultation with the Gothenburg Shipbrokers' Association, the port decided in the spring that revenue from the environmentally differentiated port charge will be reinvested in those shipping lines that have switched to clean fuels (maximum 0.1 percent sulphur content). The initiative is scheduled to run throughout 2011 and 2012.

11 operate on low sulphur fuel

To date, 11 vessels have applied for compensation in return for running on fuel containing a maximum of 0.1 percent sulphur. Six vessels are operated by Stena Oil and five by Topoil AB. These vessels operate frequently in the port area as they are bunker vessels supplying customers with fuel.

Carl Johan von Sydow, Project Manager Sales and Logistics at Topoil, said: "Collaboration with the Port of Gothenburg is a natural progression in our environmental programme. We are firmly convinced that an active environmental strategy will drive development forward and will prove profitable for both the environment and for companies."

As part of the port's green campaign, the first twenty 'green vessels' that call at the port this year will share a pot of SEK 600,000. The term 'green' refers to a vessel that is classified as offering a 'good environmental performance' according to the international Clean Shipping Index. To date, the shipping line TransAtlantic has reported three vessels and the tanker company Tärntank one vessel.

Annelie Rusth Jensen, Sustainability Co-ordinator at Transatlantic, said: "TransAtlantic has three vessels that put into the Port of Gothenburg each week and they all have high scores in the Clean Shipping Index. It was an obvious step for us to take up the port's offer and receive positive feedback on our active environmental work. It also demonstrates the importance of several parties working together for a cleaner environment."

Still money available

The Port of Gothenburg was keen to point out that there is still the opportunity for other shipping lines to participate in its environmental campaign, both with regard to rewards for cleaner fuel and compensation for green vessels.

Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg chief executive, said: "We hope that more companies will have their eyes opened to our campaign. It should pay to invest in the environment in the Port of Gothenburg."