March 29, 2023 | Circular No. 11510

Dear Member,

Below is an updated summary of environmental incentive programs Canadian ports have established to reward “green vessels.” The scope of these programs varies. However, each of these ports offers discounted harbour dues to vessels that meet certain environmental standards. Such standards include the use of “green technologies,” cleaner fuels, and/or certification under various ship environmental programs.

Since our last update on such programs via CL 11428 in 2022, the Port of Saint John has created a new incentive program, the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Halifax have added tiers to their programs with higher rebate levels, and ports have added ways to qualify for their programs. Changes since CL 11428 are indicated in italics below. This information can also be found on the member’s section of our website under the ‘Environment’ tab and as a .pdf HERE.

2023 FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR “GREEN VESSELS” AT CANADIAN PORTS

PORT REBATES (ON HARBOUR DUES)  CRITERIA TO BE MET
Port of Vancouver A vessel may qualify for one of three levels of rebates, depending on the vessel’s environmental performance:

  • Bronze: 23%
  • Silver:   35%
  • Gold:  47%
  • Platinum: 75%
 A vessel may qualify for discounted harbour dues under one of the four categories (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) based on several criteria, including:

  • Use of “cleaner fuels” (e.g., natural gas, biodiesel, hydrogen)
  • Technologies reducing emissions: (e.g., wind assist, battery assist)
  • Vessel and Engine Technologies- above regulatory requirements, e.g., connecting to shore power, underwater noise reduction, shore power, NOx Tier III Engine.
  • Participation in a ship environmental program: Environmental Ship Index (ESI), RightShip, Clean Shipping Index, Green Marine, Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), Green Award, and the Clean Cargo Working Group program
  • Environmental notations from ship classification societies (American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), China Classification Society (CCS), Det Norske Veritas-Germanischer Lloyd (DNV-GL), Korean Register, Lloyd’s Register (LR), and Registro Italiano Navale (RINA).

Application can be made on a ship call basis or through an annual declaration

See EcoAction Program for details
Port of Prince Rupert A vessel may qualify for one of three levels of rebates, depending on the vessel’s environmental performance:

  • Tier 1: 10%
  • Tier 2: 20%
  • Tier 3: 50%
 A vessel may qualify for discounted harbour dues under one of the three tiers – based on:

  • Emission Reduction technologies: shore power, NOx Tier III engine, clean fuels, emissions reduction technology.
  • Participation in a ship environmental program (Green Marine, RightShip, Environmental Ship Index, Energy Efficiency Design Index, Clean Shipping Index, Green Award, and the Clean Cargo Working Group program; or
  • Underwater noise notations from ship classification societies (SILENT notation or certification of compliance from DNV-GL, DOLPHIN notation from RINA, URN notation from BV or KR, underwater noise notation from ABS, UWN-L notation from LR, Underwater Noise N notation from CCS); or
  • Underwater noise technology: Implementation of one of nine propeller technologies)

See Green Wave Program for details.
Port of Montreal 10%

 

 Applies to bulk carriers, crude oil and product tanker vessels with deadweight ≥ 22 000 metric tonnes.

Vessels certified under the Green Award Program are eligible.

See section 3(2) of the Port of Montreal’s Harbour Fees Tariffs (Notice B-1) for details
Port of Quebec 10-30%

 

 Rebate level is based on the highest certification level in either of two programs:

Green Marine: An average score of 4.5 or higher earns shipowners a 10% discount

RightShip:  Based on a ship’s GHG rating:

  • 30% discount for an A rating
  • 20% discount for a B rating
  • 10% discount for a C rating

See ECARGO program for details.
Port of Sept Iles 10%

 

 Applies to ALL vessels certified under the Green Award Program:

See section 4(5) and Annex 1 of the Port of Sept Iles’ Harbour Dues Tariffs (Notice N-2) for details
Port of Halifax $500 to $1,500

Based on Environmental Ship Index (ESI) score

 Applies to container and RO-RO vessels only.

Rebate on harbour dues based on a vessel’s IAPH Environmental Ship Index (ESI) score.

  • 20.00 – 49.99: $500 rebate
  • 50.00 – 64.99: $1,000 rebate
  • 65.00 or higher: $1,500 rebate.

See Port of Halifax’s Tariff Rate Schedule
Port of Saint John 10%

(Up to $1,040 annually)

 Up to 10% off of Berthage for a ship registered with the IAPH Environmental Ship Index (ESI) specifically:

  • Score 24 or less – no discount
  • Score between 25-50 – 10% off berthage up to a total annual saving of $520.
  • Score greater than 51 – 10% off berthage up to a total annual saving of $1040.

See Notice N-9 of Tariff Notices

For more information, please contact the undersigned.

Sincerely,

 

Miako Ushio

Manager, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs