Tuesday, January 2, 2024 - 18:50 by ce-press
In 2023 Faxaports/Port of Reykjavik became the first port outside Norway to join the Environmental Port Index (EPI). Since then several Icelandic and North Atlantic ports have joined, bringing the total number of member ports to 29.
Sigurdur Jokull Olafsson, marketing manager Faxaports/Port of Reykjavik, says: “Faxaports have become a key turnaround TEN-T port in the North Atlantic and as such we have an obligation from 2030 regarding onshore power, where the EPI will be an important link towards our goals and commitments.
“To implement the same system as in Norway was incredibly important. With an EPI average of 41.1% compared to Norway at 45.7%, we are almost on the same page. In addition it will give us more certified data on environmental impacts, which will help demonstrate to the general public here that we are taking environmental matters very seriously.
“As the EPI representative in Iceland, it was important to bring other ports onto the same page. Akureyri and Seydisfjordur implemented EPI last year and Isafjordur will be on board in January.”
From the beginning of 2023, over 2,500 reports (port stays) have been made and a huge amount of data has been collected. Almost 200 cruise vessels are now registered in the system and the average score has gone from 40 to 45, where 100 is the best possible score.
Last year marked an increase in cruise traffic in EPI-affiliated ports by 23%. Based on data collected from the ports, the trend shows that 2023 saw a significant increase of cleaner fuels. In 2022, around 5% of the fuel used was LNG, but for 2023 this has increased to 20%.
Due to exhaust cleaning technologies NOx emissions per port stay has been reduced by 24% and SOx emissions per port stay reduced by 47%, compared to a baseline of expected emissions.
Since the first operational year in 2019, the average EPI score has increased by 15 percentage points, from 30% to 45%.
“The average EPI score continues in an upwards trend from start-up. This shows that the ship operators make an effort to accommodate the EPI mission,” commented Elisabeth Draegeboe, senior consultant & business development leader, DNV.
Future development plans include a new and updated web site for 2024. Even Husby, ceo EPI, comments: “This will be a unique opportunity for our member ports to showcase their work regarding sustainable development. The EPI portal will become a platform for more information regarding each individual port stay, period of time and detailed emission data. We want to develop EPI to be the preferred tool for the ports’ own environmental reporting and include more ports in the portfolio.”
