Beginning 1 April 2021, Japan’s port of Tokyo will waive entry fees for ships powered by LNG and hydrogen, as well as LNG bunkering vessels as part of the country’s strategy to promote the use of cleaner marine fuels
The port entry fee is now set at ¥2.70 (US$0.025) per gross tonne for one entry for oceangoing vessels, and ¥1.35(US$0.009) per entry for coastal vessels bigger than 700 gt. Vessels smaller than 700 gt and coastal ships are also exempt from paying the port entry fee.
Japan is the world’s largest importer of LNG and is investing in LNG bunkering infrastructure.
In October 2020, NYK Line conducted Japan’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering when the newbuild bunkering vessel Kaguya supplied fuel to an NYK pure car and truck carrier. The country is set to make Tokyo Bay and the Port of Yokohama leading LNG bunkering hubs.
In 2021, Eco Bunker Shipping – a joint venture – will launch Ecobunker Tokyo Bay, the first LNG bunkering ship in Tokyo Bay and a consortium of five Japanese companies are working on constructing a zero-emissions, high-power, hydrogen vessel by 2024.
The fee waiver will run for the next five years until 31 March 2026. The fee exemption will also apply to LNG-powered and LNG bunkering ships arriving at the neighbouring ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki.
Riviera Maritime Media’s Marine Propulsion Webinar Week is being held 6 April 2021 – use this link for more details and to register
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.