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7th February 2023NewsGlobal towage operator, Svitzer, has achieved gold status in the Port of London Authority (PLA)’s Thames Green Scheme, in recognition of its environmental commitments and decarbonisation strategy. Svitzer introduced carbon neutral biofuel across its Thames-based fleet in 2022, offering customers a new, cleaner towage service called Ecotow. The Ecotow product exclusively uses sustainable second-generation biofuels, produced using waste material such as used cooking oil as feedstocks and are certified by ISSC or RSB. Relative to marine diesel, these biofuels reduce carbon emissions by 100% on a tank-to-wake basis and about 90% on a well-to-wake basis. Use of the fuel was successfully trialled on the Thames, home to the UK’s largest port, in 2021. Thames Green Scheme, launched in 2020, recognises early adopters of new technologies and fuels to create a cleaner and healthier environment for people and wildlife. Svitzer progressed from silver status in the scheme to gold, following the adoption of marine biofuel and use of shore power for six vessels based at the PLA’s operations site Denton in Gravesend. Alistair Gale, PLA’s director of corporate affairs and strategy, said: “It is great to see a global organisation like Svitzer leading the way in adopting new technologies, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions. This is good news for the tidal Thames, home to the UK’s leading port, where we are driving together towards a Net Zero future.” Thames Vision 2050, launched last September, sets out the goal for the Port of London to remain the UK’s leading port, central to the nation’s economy, with Net Zero emissions. The PLA is targeting Net Zero in its own operations by 2040, or earlier. Also committed to becoming fully carbon neutral by 2040, Svitzer has been making impressive progress in the last two years, announcing the design of the world’s first fuel cell tug for harbour operations, running on green methanol, in cooperation with Maersk, and the build of the next generation multipurpose tug, TRAnsverse Tug, which will be lighter in design, consume less fuel and be ground-breaking in its use of future carbon neutral fuels. Cliff Chow, port manager for Svitzer in London, said: “It is a great honour for Svitzer to be awarded the Thames Green Scheme Gold accreditation. Environmental responsibility is deeply integrated in our strategy, and we invest significantly in finding the right paths to meeting our ambitious decarbonisation targets. This gold status is a nice testament to the strides we are making.” Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Messenger Email [...]
19th April 2022NewsSvitzer Marine has been awarded a silver accreditation in the PLA’s Thames Green Scheme. The scheme, which was launched in 2020, is an environmental performance indicator for inland waterways operators, to assess their practices across factors including air and water quality, carbon, energy, litter and waste. Svitzer’s London fleet runs on HVO fuel, with shore power provided for six vessels in Denton, Gravesend. Sven Lumber, Head of EcoTow at Svitzer, said: “Svitzer’s switch to HVO fuel is part of our Ecotow offering, which enables the option of reduced carbon towage for our customers. We are delighted to join the Thames Green Scheme and proud to be awarded silver. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Port of London Authority as part of the scheme.” Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Messenger Email [...]
25th March 2022NewsSea-Change Sailing Trust has been awarded a gold accreditation from the PLA’s  Thames Green Scheme. The scheme, which was launched in 2020, is an environmental performance indicator for inland waterways operators, to assess their practices across factors including air and water quality, carbon, energy, litter and waste. Sea-Change Sailing Trust works with young people and vulnerable adults, taking them on residential voyages which help them to build life skills such as communication, resilience and team-work. Judy Harrison, assistant executive officer at the Trust, said: “We’re very excited about our gold status with the Thames Green Scheme. We recently delivered cargo from Ramsgate to St Katharine Dock, where it was transferred to electric bikes for onward delivery. We intend to carry more cargo under sail, like the Thames sailing barges of yesteryear. Young people who want to learn skills and gain sea-time before applying for a career in the maritime industry will be able to sail with us on extended traineeships whilst we are delivering cargo.” Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Messenger Email [...]
14th October 2021NewsThe Thames Green Scheme, launched last November by the Port of London Authority (PLA) at the Greening Inland Conference, encouraging inland vessel operators to adopt more environmentally friendly practices in air quality, carbon, energy, water quality, litter and waste. We are pleased to announce that another inland operator on the Thames has now joined the Thames Green Scheme to celebrate the work they have been doing to protect and enhanced the environment. Cory,  providing waste transport service, has earned a Silver rating, aids by adoption of alternative diesel fuel across their entire vessel fleet, facilitated vessels to be plug into onshore electrical supplies, switched to energy efficient lighting, and a creditable greywater management, which replumb greywater to holding tank instead of discharging it directly into the river. Cory Group 10 Dominion Street Floor 5 London EC2M 2EF Phone: +44 (0)020 7417 5200 Website: https://www.corygroup.co.uk/ Email: [email protected] Cory Group ensures that London has a safe, clean, and sustainable way of managing its recyclable and non-recyclable waste. More information can be found on the Cory Group site. We are also pleased to announce that A&S International Ltd, technical sales consultancy representing a range of global machinery lubrication brands, has joined the Thames Green Scheme as an incentive provider to reward operators that have exceeding environmental performance. A&S International have demonstrated their corporate social responsibility through supporting the scheme as an incentive provider to drive better environmental performance and promote sustainable business. Full details of the offered incentive and eligibility can be found on their website. Participating Providers A&S International Ltd The Old Brewery 2 Brewery Court, High Street Theale RG7 5AH United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)118 930 4321 Website: https://aands.international/ Email: hello@aands-international.com A Berkshire based technical sales consultancy representing a range of global machinery lubrication brands – all with outstanding eco and sustainability credentials. More information about the incentive can be found on the A&S International website. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Messenger Email [...]
20th April 2021NewsThe first Thames Green Scheme accreditations, recognising vessel owners’ efforts to protect the environment, have been awarded to Kent-based GPS Marine and Jetstream Tours (20 April 2021). Launched by the Port of London Authority (PLA) last year, the initiative aims to help operators on the river in their work to improve their vessels’ green performance. Contracting company, GPS Marine, active along the length of the tidal Thames, is the first recipient of a silver award, while Rochester-based Jetstream Tours has been recognised with a bronze award. GPS Marine’s silver status reflects its pioneering work to trial technologies reducing emissions on the river, including the adoption of greener alternative diesel across its fleet of 16 tugs and the installation of post-combustion cleaning equipment. The company has also committed to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040 and supports the litter charity Thames21. The bronze award for Jetstream Tours follows the company’s work to power its vessels using on-shore electric charging stations. As part of its mission to make its operations free of single-use plastics, onboard refreshments are served only in washable re-useable crockery, with no plastic bottles available to purchase. The company also supports the Living River Foundation, working to protect the ecology of the Thames and its tributary, the Medway. The rankings are based on the organisation’s environmental commitment and their vessels’ performance related to air quality, carbon emissions, energy use, water quality, litter and waste, with gold and platinum commendations also available. Veronica Chan, PLA senior air quality adviser, said: “The Thames Green Scheme is a great way of celebrating operators’ efforts to protect the planet and encourage others to follow suit, and helps customers choose cleaner options on the Thames to help the environment.” GPS recently commissioned the bunker barge Dispenser to deliver a new biofuel GreenD+ HVO from Dagenham’s Stolthaven Terminal to all its Thames fleet of tugs, along with other vessels on the river. John Spencer, managing director, said: “Green D+ HVO enables us to reduce pollution across the board. For example, it adds no fossil carbon to the atmosphere and cuts NOx and particulate emissions by 35 per cent and 85 per cent respectively. “A single cargo aboard one of 1600 class barges eliminates over 200 HGV tipper movements from London’s roads. “It’s great to have this Thames Green Scheme recognition of our pioneering efforts to improve the river environment.” Richard Bain, managing director of Jetstream Tours, said: “We are proud to have received this recognition from the PLA. As a business our aim is to showcase the natural environment, whilst also protecting it for the benefit of future generations. “We are actively looking at new ways of reaching Net Zero with our fleet. “Although a small family-run business, we are determined to play our part in creating a safer and more pleasant environment for all to enjoy.” The PLA’s own fleet has earned a silver ranking under the scheme, the result of our investment in Leader, the UK’s first hybrid cutter boat, which ferries pilots to and from visiting larger ships, to ensure their safe navigation, up and down the river. This summer, Driftwood II, a PLA vessel deployed to retrieve litter and obstructions from the river, will be fitted with a selective catalytic reduction system, to cut nitrogen oxide emissions. At Barrier Gardens Pier in Woolwich and Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend, the PLA is introducing facilities enabling vessels to plug into on-shore electrical supplies, rather than running their engines, when alongside. It has also committed to cut carbon emissions by more than 60 per cent by 2025 and achieve Net Zero by 2040. Other PLA initiatives to improve air quality include a ground-breaking inland vessel emissions reduction roadmap. Find out more about the Thames Green Scheme. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Messenger Email [...]
13th April 2021NewsAn independent monitoring study commissioned by the Port of London Authority, shows the adoption of green fuels — hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) fuels, and gas to liquid (GTL), converted from natural gas — has significantly reduced emissions of particulate matter, compared to diesel, boosting air quality on the river. A reduction of 39 per cent or more in nitrogen oxides and a slight reduction in carbon dioxide at the point of use (during combustion of the fuel) were also recorded. The full report will be available on our website next month. We began trialling low-emission fuels in 2018. A programme to convert our fleet to HVO fuels started last year with our harbour patrol vessel, Kew. James Trimmer, our director of planning and environment, said: “The wider use of greener fuels is an important first step towards our target of Net Zero emissions on the river by 2050. “It also is a major step forward in meeting the emissions reduction targets outlined in our Air Quality Strategy.” GPS Marine’s Thames Tideway tug was the first in its fleet to convert to new biofuel Green D+, a type of HVO, last year. Vessels along the river can now refuel with GreenD+, via GPS Dispenser, a refurbished barge. John Spencer, CEO said: “We hope to set an example for other fleets to take environmental responsibility into their own hands.” Thames Marine Services has been supplying and promoting alternative cleaner fuels on the river for the past 18 months. Director Robert Dwan said: “We have worked on trials for both Shell GTL and Crown HVO. Feedback from our customers has been very positive who are now looking to switch their fleet over from diesel to cleaner fuels.” Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Messenger Email [...]