Following an announcement by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH), OceanScore has been mandated as the administrator of the Environmental Ship Index (ESI).
The Environmental Ship Index (ESI) is a voluntary, industry-led environmental performance scheme that enables ports to incentivise ships demonstrating performance beyond applicable regulatory requirements. Participating ship owners and operators benefit from incentives such as port fee reductions based on independently assessed environmental criteria.
For ports, ESI provides a consistent and independent framework to recognise environmental performance, support incentive schemes, and demonstrate sustainability commitments beyond their direct Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The scheme is supported by more than 70 ports and maritime administrations worldwide, with over 6,500 vessels currently registered. ESI is believed to be the most widely adopted environmental incentive framework in global shipping. The index was created by major ports in cooperation with the IAPH and has been integrated into the IAPH’s governance structure since 2020.
Under agreement with IAPH, OceanScore has been mandated as the globally exclusive administrator of the ESI. OceanScore will work in close coordination with IAPH, the ESI Board, and the ESI Technical Advisory Group to ensure continuity, transparency, and consistent application of the ESI framework.
IAPH MD Patrick Verhoeven said: “We are excited to work in partnership with our new administrator OceanScore to ensure ESI remains the global benchmark for incentivising the environmental performance of vessels. Amid uncertainty about the maritime industry’s long-term strategy for decarbonisation, ESI remains a trusted, established and evolving solution to help ports reward those vessels reducing emissions at a level beyond the IMO baseline.”
The administrator change does not lead to any immediate changes for ESI participants. Building on ESI’s foundation and global recognition, OceanScore expects to work together with IAPH and ESI governing bodies to further develop the scheme into an even more attractive, user-friendly, and future-ready incentive framework. The focus will be on strengthening ESI’s role for ports and shipowners, ensuring alignment with evolving technical developments, regulatory requirements, and the decarbonisation ambitions of the global maritime industry.
Image: Albrecht Grell and Ralf Garrn, OceanScore MDs (source: Oceanscore)
