The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) recently launched its Green Wave, an environmental stewardship program. The program rewards companies that have implemented sustainable shipping practices through a variety of incentives. The Green Wave program supersedes the older Environmental Incentive Program for Vessels (EIPV) implemented by the PRPA. The EIPV offered discounted harbor dues to commercial vessels that implemented emission reduction measures. Expanding upon the success of the EIPV, the Green Wave program incorporates a number of additional mechanisms for incentives. These incentives reward shippers for:
- Reducing fuel sulfur content
- Identification on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), by the World Ports Initiative
- Participation in the Green Marine program
- Evaluation by RightShip for GHG emissions
- Receiving certification by Green Award
- Membership in the Clean Shipping Index (CSI)
- Verification with the International Maritime Organization’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)
Each of these programs provide guidelines for reducing environmental impact of shipping activities by freight shipping companies. Green Wave aims to expand the opportunities for shipping companies to reap the benefits of investing in sustainability initiatives. It is expected that the program will provide about $100,000 in discounts to environmentally conscious shipping companies in 2014.
Already in 2014 several ships calling on the Port of Prince Rupert have successfully applied to Green Wave, including the Europa Bay bulk carrier and COSCO Shanghai container ship. Don Krusel, President and CEO of the PRPA, expounded on the larger system benefits of Green Wave saying, “By increasing the scope of our environmental incentive program, we’ve included more qualification standards for arriving vessels that are consistent across the global shipping industry. We’re proud to be accelerating the industry’s movement toward greater efficiency and sustainability through programs like Green Wave. As more members of the worldwide port community launch similar initiatives, common systems of measurement and reward are vital to wide adoption and success.”
In July, environmental shipping organizations Carbon War Room and Rightship acknowledged PRPA’s leadership role in advancing environmental protection at seaports through Green Wave. “It is great to see PRPA joining the pioneering charterers who are using the A to G rating to enhance their commercial operations,” said Jose Maria Figueres, President of Carbon War Room. “As important demand-side stakeholders, ports have a key role to play in encouraging the greater use of efficiency rating systems and in rewarding shipowners who invest to make their fleets more efficient.”
Green Wave supports PRPA’s other environmental stewardship programs, including Green Marine, Shore Power, and Port Carbon Assessment.