Taiwan offering incentives to ‘green’ vessel operations

Taiwan has set aside a total NT $77 million ($2.6 million) to reward the practise of slow steaming and consumption of low sulphur marine fuels within territorial waters in 2018, according to Taipei Times.

It has dedicated a budget of NT$32 million, NT$22 million from Taiwan International Ports Corp (TIPC) and NT$10 million from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration, in incentives for slow steaming operations.

International vessels with a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 metric tonnes (mt) and cruise ships will receive NT$8,000 when they lower their sailing speed to below 12 knots per hour when entering within 20 nautical miles of Taiwan’s seaports.

Meanwhile, the Taiwan Maritime and Ports Bureau has allocated budget of NT$45 million in a trial programme to reward vessels switching to consume low sulphur marine fuel when operating near the country’s ports.

Each ship which does so will be entitled to a subsidy of NT$5,000.

Publication date: 12 January, 2018