Barbados looks to greenhouse gas ratings

The letter of intent to develop the programme was signed by David Jean Marie, CEO of Barbados Port and Anuj Chopra, vice president, RightShip, during the first Hemispheric Seminar on Port Legislation held in Montevideo.

Mr Jean Marie said: “By acting local and protecting our port environment we are part of a larger global movement intent on reducing the carbon footprint of the shipping industry.”

Jose Maria Figueres, Chairman of the Carbon War Room, added: “By rewarding the cleanest ships that deliver goods, people and resources to their island, the Port of Barbados is taking a leadership role in promoting a reduction in carbon emissions and signalling a market shift towards cleaner vessels.”

The RightShip/Carbon War Room port incentive programme measures carbon dioxide emissions from ships and rates them from category A (the most efficient) to G. It offers rewards, most commonly reduced port fees to the most efficient vessels.

To begin with, RightShip will begin benchmarking vessels to set a baseline for displaying trends in CO2 emissions in Barbados. The programme will then be tailor-made to meet the port’s requirements.

Barbados Port will be joining a growing community of ships utilising the RightShip and Carbon War Room GHG Emissions Rating to reward sustainable ships. The Canadian ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert already use the system and the Port of Rotterdam has also committed to developing a similar initiative.