13pc of ocean-going ships registered with low-sulphur scheme

An average of 13 per cent of ocean-going ships calling at Hong Kong each day have registered with the government's low-sulphur fuel incentive scheme, which aims to cut pollution from vessels, a South China Morning Post investigation found.

The percentage is higher for massive container ships using Kwai Chung container port. The survey showed almost one in four container ships using Kwai Chung registered with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) programme, launched at the end of October.

Former Marine Department director Roger Tupper was surprised the figures were so high.

The Post investigation, which tracked vessel arrivals and departures over a week, found around 70 large container ships, tankers, general cargo vessels and cruise liners visited Hong Kong each day. Of these about eight or nine are signed up to the scheme, which will cost the government HK$260 million over three years.

Around 550 ships were registered with the EPD scheme up to mid-December, of which 192 had made a total of 460 calls at Hong Kong by the end of November. Some HK$2.45 million in port dues had been waived, according to a department spokeswoman.

Operators of ships registered under the scheme receive a 50 per cent cut in port-related fees if the vessels burn low-sulphur fuel while berthed in Hong Kong.