developing further their environmental management programmes, highlights the
main environmental challenges that ports face and demonstrates response options,
developing a common approach towards responsible action while respecting the
diversity of ports, their competences and their abilities.
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed Europe’s objective set
out in the European Green Deal to become the world’s first net-zero emission area by
2050 and to reduce emissions by 50% towards 55% compared with 1990 levels by
2030. On 19 February 2020, ESPO published its Position Paper on the European
Green Deal objectives in ports (ESPO 2020). ESPO recognises the importance of
LNG as a transition fuel and considers onshore power supply (OPS) as an important
pillar of the future energy landscape. Consequently, investments in those technologies should be further encouraged. LNG’s role as a transition fuel should be
recognised. LNG has been one of the compliant fuels for shipping to meet the
0.1% sulphur cap in SECA areas (since 2015) and the overall 0.5% sulphur cap
(effective as of 1 January 2020). Moreover, current LNG infrastructure may also be
used for bio-LNG.
However, ESPO considers that there is still uncertainty, as to which clean fuels
will be most suitable for each segment of shipping. ESPO therefore argues that any
new legislation should retain the current flexibility for any clean fuels or technologies which provide equivalent solutions. New legislation should allow the uptake of
a variety of clean fuels, rather than prescribing specific fuels for shipping.
A technology neutral approach is an absolute prerequisite to support innovation
in different promising technologies. For ESPO, a goal-based approach with emission
reduction standards accompanied by port roadmaps is the best way to ensure that
Europe’s greening objectives are achieved. An EU standard for the reduction of
emissions at berths should initially address berths close to urban areas and should
target specific segments of shipping such as cruise ships and ferries. The standard
should be subsequently expanded to all segments of shipping taking into account
progress on the development of clean technologies. Any technologies available to
achieve the gradual emission reduction standards should be accelerated and encouraged. These technologies include shoreside electricity, hybrid solutions, hydrogen,
ammonia or synthetic fuels. A goal-based approach would give clear guidance to the
shipping sector on the objectives to be reached while providing necessary flexibility
for shipping, energy suppliers and ports on the choice of technologies allowing them
to choose the most effective solutions. While ESPO is supportive of a policy
framework that encourages investments in OPS and takes away the barriers for
using OPS, it must be assessed case-by-case against other green solutions and must
be seen in the context of the rapidly evolving zero-emission propulsion technologies
(including hydrogen and ammonia).
The EU legislative proposals should increase the pressure on the IMO to roll out
meaningful measures by 2023. ESPO believes that any European proposals such as
an emission trading scheme (ETS), a levy or an innovation fund must be thoroughly
examined in view of safeguarding the competitiveness of the EU port sector. In
essence, a substantial part of the revenues from any market-based mechanism
introduced must be used for port infrastructure investments and for supporting the
use of clean fuel infrastructure. Environmentally differentiated port fees (incentive
184
V. Alexandropoulou et al.
main environmental challenges that ports face and demonstrates response options,
developing a common approach towards responsible action while respecting the
diversity of ports, their competences and their abilities.
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed Europe’s objective set
out in the European Green Deal to become the world’s first net-zero emission area by
2050 and to reduce emissions by 50% towards 55% compared with 1990 levels by
2030. On 19 February 2020, ESPO published its Position Paper on the European
Green Deal objectives in ports (ESPO 2020). ESPO recognises the importance of
LNG as a transition fuel and considers onshore power supply (OPS) as an important
pillar of the future energy landscape. Consequently, investments in those technologies should be further encouraged. LNG’s role as a transition fuel should be
recognised. LNG has been one of the compliant fuels for shipping to meet the
0.1% sulphur cap in SECA areas (since 2015) and the overall 0.5% sulphur cap
(effective as of 1 January 2020). Moreover, current LNG infrastructure may also be
used for bio-LNG.
However, ESPO considers that there is still uncertainty, as to which clean fuels
will be most suitable for each segment of shipping. ESPO therefore argues that any
new legislation should retain the current flexibility for any clean fuels or technologies which provide equivalent solutions. New legislation should allow the uptake of
a variety of clean fuels, rather than prescribing specific fuels for shipping.
A technology neutral approach is an absolute prerequisite to support innovation
in different promising technologies. For ESPO, a goal-based approach with emission
reduction standards accompanied by port roadmaps is the best way to ensure that
Europe’s greening objectives are achieved. An EU standard for the reduction of
emissions at berths should initially address berths close to urban areas and should
target specific segments of shipping such as cruise ships and ferries. The standard
should be subsequently expanded to all segments of shipping taking into account
progress on the development of clean technologies. Any technologies available to
achieve the gradual emission reduction standards should be accelerated and encouraged. These technologies include shoreside electricity, hybrid solutions, hydrogen,
ammonia or synthetic fuels. A goal-based approach would give clear guidance to the
shipping sector on the objectives to be reached while providing necessary flexibility
for shipping, energy suppliers and ports on the choice of technologies allowing them
to choose the most effective solutions. While ESPO is supportive of a policy
framework that encourages investments in OPS and takes away the barriers for
using OPS, it must be assessed case-by-case against other green solutions and must
be seen in the context of the rapidly evolving zero-emission propulsion technologies
(including hydrogen and ammonia).
The EU legislative proposals should increase the pressure on the IMO to roll out
meaningful measures by 2023. ESPO believes that any European proposals such as
an emission trading scheme (ETS), a levy or an innovation fund must be thoroughly
examined in view of safeguarding the competitiveness of the EU port sector. In
essence, a substantial part of the revenues from any market-based mechanism
introduced must be used for port infrastructure investments and for supporting the
use of clean fuel infrastructure. Environmentally differentiated port fees (incentive
184
V. Alexandropoulou et al.