Environmental incentive schemes for ports

Important results from the project

Ports´ opportunities to promote environmental efficient vehicles, ships, modes of transport, technologies and fuels by using environmental differentiated port dues and Incentives have been investigated. Both sea and land transport have been studied. The investigated instruments were analyzed on the basis of the effect on freight flows and air emissions and the possibility of implementation based on legal and political aspects. The project primarily addresses the Transport policy objectives by reducing negative environmental effects of transport.

Expected long term effects

The outcome of the project will provide a knowledge base for ports’ contribution to decreasing air emissions from all transport modes in port and reducing noise and queues from heavy road traffic in the port city. There are many port instruments internationally, both for the sea and the land side. The aims of land based fees are increased filling rates, cleaner vehicles and increased share of rail/sea transport. However, there are legal challenges to the truck fees. It is also important that several ports have a common system in order to avoid the shift of goods to nearby ports.

Approach and implementation

The project was carried out by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (project manager), the University of Gothenburg (Business Administration, Law and Economics), VTI, Port of Gothenburg, Stockholm Ports and Port of Trelleborg, with contributions from a reference group consisting of companies, authorities and associations. After mapping existing environmental instruments, four were selected for deeper analysis: discounts for vessels with lower NOx emissions or reduced speed, gate fees for trucks based on entry time or environmental performance.