Lower tariffs could encourage green ships

The Port of Santos has reduced tariffs for so-called green ships and uses a scoring system (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT Archive)

It is essential to create ways to encourage the use of green ships by shipowners, such as reducing port tariffs. This is the opinion of Gesner Oliveira, an economist and partner at GO Associados, and teacher at FGV, where he leads the Center for Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions Studies.

The Port of Santos has taken an initiative. The Port Authority of Santos (APS) has reduced tariffs for so-called green ships that are registered and have a positive score on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI). Discounts also benefit ships that frequently navigate the Brazilian coast (cabotage) and passenger vessels, as a way to promote tourism.

"The criteria that encourage green ships are based on a score from the ESI index, which rates vessels from zero to 100 based on the analysis of technologies for systems or fuels that allow the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur oxides (SOX) emissions beyond the regulatory limits required", explains in a statement.

According to APS, the tariff discount will be 15% for scores between 71 and 100 points; 10% for scores between 51 and 70 points; 5% for scores between 31 and 50 points, with scores from zero to 30 receiving no reduction.

To encourage cabotage navigation, the approved table values the frequency of calls at national ports, with the discount percentage increasing as ships use Brazilian port services more frequently. For cruise ships, the discount table favors those with more passengers, as it stimulates job creation in the country.

In the ports of Paranaguá and Antonina, in Paraná, there is another type of measure benefiting these vessels: priority docking, which grants preferential berths regardless of the chronological order of arrival. The idea is to build loyalty with sustainable ships in the port complex.

Ports need minimum infrastructure The creation of mechanisms and the prioritization and investment in the necessary infrastructure for green ships to operate in Brazil were highlighted by Gesner Oliveira, an economist and partner at GO Associados, and teacher at FGV, where he leads the Center for Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions Studies. He cited an example of what could be done: providing green fuels (hydrogen, methanol, biodiesel, and others) at ports, so that vessels can be refueled.

"Brazil is recognized for its expertise in biofuels technology and its electricity matrix with a high share of renewable sources, which facilitates the production, for example, of green hydrogen," says the teacher.

However, the national Merchant Marine still lacks vessels powered by green fuels, which prevents the country from benefiting from these advantages.

"There is a need for both the construction of new vessels and the modernization of existing ones. In this regard, in January of this year, BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) created the BNDES Blue program, which aims to support shipowners in the modernization and construction of vessels, providing necessary support to the sector," he comments.

Diagnosis In a statement, the Ministry of Ports and Airports informs that the National Ports Secretariat (SNP) is discussing the diagnosis of the situation of port terminals regarding sustainability to consolidate the data, as well as guidelines for developing an agenda on the topic and strategies for the international repositioning of ports with green corridors.

"It is important to highlight the value of the relationship between the city and the port and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as strategies associated with climate change actions. The investments that the SNP is proposing for the new governmental investment portfolio also consider the interactions of the port with its surrounding territory, emphasizing to port management the importance of this topic in the strategic planning of port units", it concludes.