Under the name ESI Noise, the Port of Rotterdam Authority will offer shipping a financial discount if it is made clear on the basis of an internationally accepted standard how much noise the ship produces when it is moored.
The incentive (reward) is in line with the policy of the Port of Rotterdam Authority to develop the port sustainably in harmony with the environment. Seagoing vessels now only have noise requirements in the field of working conditions on board, but not for noise production towards the (residential) environment. With the incentive based on ESI noise, the Port of Rotterdam Authority stimulates attention for the noise production of ships towards the environment.
Neptune
The noise report must be drawn up according to the so-called international Neptune protocol. The resulting score has been adopted by the Environmental Ship Index (ESI). From now on, ships in Rotterdam can receive a discount of €312,50 per visit with a maximum of €1.250 per year for having an ESI noise report. This discount scheme will in any case apply until the end of 2023.
Regional measurement program
In addition to the incentive scheme for individual ships based on ESI noise, the Port Authority, in collaboration with the municipality of Rotterdam, the Province of South Holland and DCMR, will soon start a regional measurement program into the noise of moored ships in general. ESI noise and the regional measurement program both contribute to increasing knowledge about the noise of moored ships and increasing (international) attention to the noise of moored ships.
Environmental Ship Index
This is an internationally accepted measure that until now only focused on the emissions of seagoing vessels in the field of air quality and climate. The new ESI noise index also reflects the performance of ships in terms of noise. The ESI is an index that is used worldwide. By mid-2022, almost 7.000 sea-going vessels had an ESI score, which allows them to receive a discount in almost 60 ports. Rotterdam is the second port after Hamburg to stimulate attention for quieter shipping in this way, according to the Rotterdam harbour.
