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The world's largest container carrier, Maersk Line, and shipping company Broström Tanker, have decided to join the port of Gothenburg's green shipping initiative.

The two maritime firms have agreed to burn marine fuel with a maximum of 0.1 percent sulphur when their ships operate in the port area. Five shipping companies, with 37 vessels, are now participating in the port's environmental campaign for cleaner shipping.

For several years, the port of Gothenburg has imposed a surcharge on vessels with more than 0.5 percent sulphur in their fuel. In the autumn of 2010, the port decided that revenue from this charge could be reinvested in shipping companies that opt for clean fuels with a maximum of 0.1 percent sulphur content.

Shipping companies can now receive up to SEK 250,000 in compensation for the higher cost of using fuel with a lower sulphur content. Other environmental measures are also rewarded.

Maersk Line is one of the world's largest shipping companies and the first container company to switch to low sulphur fuel at the port of Gothenburg. Broström Tanker forms part of the same group as Maersk and is the first tanker company to join the initiative. Apart from these two companies, Stena Oil, Topoil and OW Bunker are also participating.

In total, 37 vessels have applied for compensation for burning fuel with a maximum of 0.1 percent sulphur.

Åsa Wilske, Environmental Manager at the port of Gothenburg, is pleased that more shipping companies have decided to become part of the environmental campaign. "We are seeking to demonstrate that it is possible to take significant steps towards cleaner shipping through voluntary collaboration and innovative ways of working," she said.

Reduction in sulphur emissions

The port of Gothenburg points out that shipping is statistically a very energy efficient mode of transport. One large container ship is able to carry the same volume of freight as 7,000 trucks. However, the emission of sulphur dioxide and particles remains an issue for shipping. Sulphur dioxide acidifies land and water and spreads particles that are hazardous to health.

The 37 vessels that are involved in the clean shipping programme will reduce their sulphur emissions by 90 percent in the port area. As a result of the campaign, emissions of sulphur dioxide are expected to fall in 2011 and 2012 by 152 tonnes.

Environmental initiatives

Programme 1: Improved fuel quality

The port of Gothenburg is seeking to reduce the emission of sulphur oxide and particles and therefore supports operators that decide to use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1 percent. The extra cost of using cleaner fuel in the Gothenburg area will be reimbursed by up to SEK 250,000 per year per vessel.

Programme 2: Support for green vessels according to the Clean Shipping Index

The port of Gothenburg will reimburse up to SEK 30,000 of the port charge to vessels calling at the port of Gothenburg during 2011-2012 that are classified as "good environmental performance" according to the Clean Shipping Index.

To be classified as green according to the Clean Shipping Index, the vessels must have good scores in all five areas – carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide and particles, nitric oxide, chemicals and water and waste.