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The port of Gothenburg has announced that shipping lines that choose to use cleaner fuels for their vessels when in port waters can now be reimbursed for the increase in fuel costs.

Shipping lines that choose a fuel containing a maximum of 0.1 per cent sulphur can receive up to SEK 250,000 (US$40,355) in compensation for the higher bunker costs.

0.1 per cent sulphur is 10 times lower than the statutory limit. Other fuels, such as liquefied natural gas, can also qualify for financial support.

For a number of years the port of Gothenburg has levied a supplementary charge on vessels using fuel with more than 0.5 per cent sulphur content. The revenue from this charge, termed an 'environmentally differentiated' port charge, is now being channelled back to shipping lines that choose to invest in clean fuel for their tanks.

"We have worked with our customers to arrive at proposals for how this revenue should be used. Providing support for low sulphur fuel is one of several initiatives," stated Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg chief executive.

"Through this environmental measure we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to take important steps towards cleaner shipping through voluntary collaboration and our hope is that in this way we will facilitate the transition to low sulphur fuels," added Kårestedt.

Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region with 11,000 visits by vessels each year. One-third of Swedish foreign trade passes through the port as well as 65 per cent of all container traffic.