Singapore will waive port dues for brand spanking new low- and zero-carbon-fuelled harbour craft for 5 years from the date of their registration as a part of the nation’s efforts to push for a extra sustainable maritime sector.
As well as, concessions on port dues – at the moment out there to vessels powered by liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) – might be prolonged to incorporate vessels utilizing low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, introduced Minister for Transport S Iswaran on Wednesday (Apr 6).
Concessions will even be prolonged to vessels that exceed the Worldwide Maritime Group’s (IMO) power effectivity design index (EEDI) Part 3 necessities by 10 per cent or extra, he added.
Talking on the second IMO-Singapore Way forward for Transport Convention, the Transport Minister mentioned that the Singapore Registry of Ships is “dedicated to lowering emissions”.
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Mr Iswaran famous that the registry’s inexperienced notation was launched final yr to recognise Singapore-registered ships that exceed the IMO’s EEDI Part 3 necessities by 10 per cent or extra, in addition to ships that undertake engines that use low- or zero-carbon fuels.
The Inexperienced Ship Programme – which offers incentives to vessels which scale back their emissions – might be aligned with these necessities to supply such ships rebates on their registration payment and annual tonnage tax.
Mr Iswaran, who can be Minister-in-charge of Commerce Relations, additionally pointed to different efforts made by Singapore to scale back emissions from the maritime sector, resembling final yr’s launch of the World Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation.
“The centre is creating, trialling and shaping the requirements wanted to deploy low- and zero-carbon fuels and options,” he mentioned.
He added that the nation had co-sponsored the business’s proposal on the IMO’s Marine Atmosphere Safety Committee to ascertain an Worldwide Maritime Analysis and Improvement Board, financed by obligatory contributions of US$2 per tonne of marine gas consumed.
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“This may create urgently wanted funds to make low- and zero-carbon options commercially viable, whereas supporting capability constructing for creating nations’ local weather motion,” he mentioned.
“Singapore helps world (market-based measures) that incentivise the transition to greener delivery, whereas addressing the disproportionate influence on States, particularly creating nations,” mentioned Mr Iswaran, pointing to the nation’s assist of a world carbon levy on worldwide delivery.
“This may present worldwide delivery firms with better certainty, in addition to clear value indicators. Most significantly, a unified, world scheme will take away the regulatory prices and complexity of unilateral rules imposed by nations or areas,” he added.
Mr Iswaran additionally introduced the launch of the NextGEN (Inexperienced and Environment friendly Navigation) Join initiative, which invitations completely different stakeholders to suggest options for inclusive maritime decarbonisation.
The decision for proposals might be open to the business, academia and world analysis centres, he mentioned, noting he hoped to see proposals to trial motion plans to scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions alongside particular routes within the Asia Pacific area, in an “equitable and inclusive method”.
“Profitable proposals, as soon as confirmed in trials, might then be applied on a wider scale alongside different routes,” he mentioned.
Supply: CNA
