Vancouver Port Ties Fees to Ship Emission Levels
Date: 02-Apr-07
Country: CANADA
The Port of Vancouver said Friday the new harbor dues system will reward ships that take steps to reduce pollution, such as burning lower-sulfur fuel, by charging them lower dues than it does to ships with higher emission levels.
The new fee schedule comes into effect Sunday.
Ports around the world have come under pressure to reduce the amount of air pollution caused by cargo ships. It has been estimated ships that carry 90 percent of the world's trade run on high sulfur residual fuels.
A report in 2004 by US and Canadian regulators warned that by 2010 growing marine traffic in the Vancouver area will contribute more air pollution to the region than is produced by cars and trucks.
The Port of Vancouver handles about C$53 billion (US$46 billion) in goods annually, and has been increasing the amount of trade it handles between Asia and the US Midwest as an alternative to US ports.
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell has pledged that the Pacific Coast province will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2020, and said Vancouver needs to work with competing US ports on environmental issues.
