Rotterdam port induced to cut emissions to avoid eco-lawsuit

THE Port of Rotterdam has agreed under pressure to cut emission of various "harmful" substances by 2020, according to Hans Berkhuizen, director of Friends of the Earth Netherlands.


The deal follows an agreement signed by the port authority and the Friends of the Earth to forestall the eco-group's plan of suing the port over building the new Maasvlakte 2 terminal.


Under the terms of the agreement, the port authority is charged with reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), fine dust (PM10) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) by 10 per cent of the level anticipated in the environmental impact study for the new terminal by 2020.


"In concrete terms, this means a reduction of 25 tonnes of fine dust, 166 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 380 tonnes of nitrogen oxide per annum. Roughly speaking, that is equal to the emissions from all private cars in the city of Utrecht," a statement from port authorities said.


To help the port authority attain its targets, incentives are being offered to port users such as a discount on harbour dues for clean ocean-going vessels, low-energy and clean equipment at container terminals, more efficient handling of ship visits for maritime shipping and the reduction of emissions from the Port Authority's own vessels.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)