NEWS
Green craft technology TRAN votes no to
port-side charging tax The European Parliament’s Transport Committee (TRAN) has voted to remove existing tax barriers for the uptake of shore-side/port-side electricity by vessels – a move that could boost development of electrified ships across the continent. Although vessels can avoid these taxes by generating electricity onboard from their own marine fuels, ships at berth have incurred electricity- related taxes when hooking up to port-based chargers. It is hoped that, by removing these shore-side
tax restrictions, more vessels and ports can be encouraged to embrace electric power. For instance, Isabelle Ryckbost, secretary general
of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), said in September that the additional, tax-related costs of recharging in port meant that such charging facilities tended to be “underused”.
decrease. However, Denmark would appear to have undergone the most drastic reduction in its shore-side charging tax rate, which has plummeted from DKK878 (US$135.84) per MWh to a mere DKK4 (US$0.62). The current Swedish and German tax rates are set to last until mid-2020, while the Danish taxes apply until June 2021. Ryckbost added: “A permanent and European
tax exemption for shore-side electricity at berth would enhance its uptake, allowing ports and their surrounding communities to reap the environmental benefits of these costly investments.” She cited cleaner air quality and reduced noise of ships at berth as obvious benefits of this strategy. “We now hope the message also reaches the [European Commission], the national governments and the ministers in charge of taxation issues,” she opined.
Ferries Delivery imminent for
Chile-bound tourist cat Argentinian boatbuilder Astilleros Unidelta has concluded sea trials aboard its 17m × 5m catamaran ferry newbuild Worsley. Designed by Emilio Noel, with whom the yard has collaborated on workboat projects in the past, Worsley can carry a three-man crew and up to 69 passengers. The vessel will be operated by Hipsur of Chile, which runs a fleet of tourist catamarans on Lake Pehoé in Patagonia.
Astilleros Unidelta’s latest launch, Worsley, pictured conducting sea trials before her delivery to Chilean operator Hipsur (credit: Cummins)
Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO: “A permanent exemption for shore-side electricity at berth would enhance its uptake”
Some European countries have already taken
the lead and have had their individual, national exemptions accepted by the European Commission. For example, the tax rate in Germany has been cut to €0.50 per MWh, whereas, before the reduction, the rate was €20.50 (US$23.70) per MWh. In Sweden, meanwhile, the decision to slash the tax rate from between SEK185-293 (US$20.50-32.50) to SEK50 (US$5.54) per MWh marks a comparable
Ship & Boat International November/December 2018 Worsley is powered by two Cummins QSB 6.7
main engines, each rated 261kW at 2,800rpm, coupled to a pair of Konrad 680B sterndrives. Te vessel is capable of achieving a top speed of 22knots and a range of 600nm, with onboard tanks providing 3,000litres of fuel and 300litres of fresh water capacity. Cummins also supplied the cat’s Onan MDKBJ generator, which can provide 6KVA of auxiliary power.
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