Environmentally friendly ships calling at the Port of London are set to be offered an annual discount – in line with our long-term goal of improving the tidal Thames environment.

We’re the first UK port to offer discounted port charges, as long as visiting vessels meet an Environmental Shipping Index (ESI) score of 30 or above.
Developed by the World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI), the index ranks ship environmental performance based on factors including: sulphur oxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. It provides a quick reference rating for ships with emissions that are better than current International Maritime Organisation standards.

PLA chairman Christopher Rodrigues said shipping was the most environmentally friendly method of moving large volumes of goods and materials, but more needs to be done.

He added: “As ships represent a substantial capital investment, we want to encourage faster adoption of new green technologies by giving an added incentive to adopt cleaner technologies.

“As Custodians of the tidal Thames, introducing this discount is one of the first things we are doing to encourage the uptake of new and green technologies.

Our overall goal, set through the Thames Vision project, is to reduce the port’s environmental impact and this initiative is the start of that journey.”

Developed over the past 18 months, Thames Vision sets
out a plan for the river’s development over the next 20 years. It identifies potential for increased river use, alongside improved progressively
improved environmental conditions and improved
habitat condition. Fer Van
De Laar, WPCI director said: “The ESI provides a measure
of the environmental performance of ocean-going vessels. We are excited to see the Port of London utilising the ESI for one of its intended purposes, by encouraging shipping lines to improve environmental performance and to reduce the port’s environmental impact.”