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The Port of Seattle says that its At-Berth Clean Fuels (ABC Fuels) program will be 'bigger and better' in 2010 following the port's decision to increase the fuel reimbursement to ships participating in the scheme.

The ABC Fuels program was unveiled last year by the Port of Seattle and the Puget Sound Clean Air agency and will also continue to be in force in 2010.

This year, the reimbursement to participating ships will increase by $750 from $1,500 to $2,250 per call due to higher fuel costs.

The At-Berth Clean Fuels (ABC Fuels) was devised by the Port of Seattle and shipping lines that call at Seattle in order to meet the goals of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy - a joint effort by the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver (Canada) and their private sector partners to reduce maritime related air emissions.

Vessels participating in ABC Fuels agree to use low sulphur fuel (0.5% or less) in their auxiliary engines while docked in Seattle. In exchange, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency helps defray the cost of the more expensive low sulphur fuel by providing participating vessels with a reimbursement for each port call.

In August 2009, 37 ships from six container lines and one cruise line were said to be participating in ABC Fuels. Between January and August, the vessels had made 91 stops at Seattle, representing approximately 35 percent of the vessels that make frequent calls at the Port. Sulphur dioxide emissions from those vessels were said to have declined by more than 20 tonnes.

Based on participation during the first two months of this year, ABC Fuels is on track to eliminate 72 metric tons of sulphur emissions in 2010, the Port of Seattle said.