Up to 10% Reduction in Port Facility Fees for Container Ships with ESI Scores of 35.0 or Higher
Starting in the new year, container ships entering Busan Port will be subject to differentiated treatment, as incentives will be provided for eco-friendly vessels.
On December 22, Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Song Sanggeun) announced that it will implement the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) incentive program, an eco-friendly ship evaluation initiative participated in by major ports worldwide, beginning January 1, 2026.
The ESI is an international standard index that evaluates ships on a scale of 0 to 100 points by comprehensively assessing their performance in reducing emissions of NOx, SOx, and CO2 (nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and carbon dioxide), as well as whether they are equipped with Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems. Currently, approximately 73 leading ports around the world, including Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium, Los Angeles/Long Beach in the United States, and Tokyo in Japan, are participating in this program.
The program applies to international container ships entering and leaving Busan Port. Ships with an ESI score between 35.0 and 49.9 will receive a 5% reduction in port facility usage fees (ship entry and departure fees), while those scoring 50.0 or higher will receive up to a 10% reduction. The discounts will be provided in a lump sum after a settlement of the previous year’s port calls, with the first settlement for 2026 arrivals taking place in 2027. However, incentives from the Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) program cannot be received simultaneously for the same voyage.
Song Sanggeun, President of Busan Port Authority, stated, "The introduction of ESI incentives encourages technological transitions for ships, enabling Busan Port to actively participate in global decarbonization efforts by reducing air pollutants and greenhouse gases generated during operations." He emphasized, "By maintaining the existing VSR incentives and adding ESI incentives, we have diversified support measures for eco-friendly vessels."
Through this new program, Busan Port aims to enhance its competitiveness in attracting eco-friendly ships and accelerate progress toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
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