Over a period of three years! The Hong Kong Maritime Department will launch two green ship fuel discount plans to help the shipping industry transition to green.

On June 12, the Hong Kong Maritime Department announced that it will launch the "Green Ship Fuel-Related Vessel Port Fees Incentive Scheme" and "Green Ship Registration Incentive Scheme" on June 16, lasting for three years, to encourage more vessels to refuel with green ship fuel in Hong Kong and accelerate the green transformation of the Hong Kong fleet. In order to seize the decarbonization trend in the international shipping industry, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced in November 2024 the "Green Ship Fuel Refueling Action Plan," committing to reduce the cost of switching to green ship fuel in the shipping industry through various financial incentives, and accelerate the development of Hong Kong as a green port. The Hong Kong SAR Government has allocated approximately HK$34 million in this year's Budget to implement related measures, exempting port fees for vessels using or carrying green ship fuel, and providing discounts to green fuel-powered vessels registered in Hong Kong. The "Green Ship Fuel-Related Vessel Port Fees Incentive Scheme" provides discounts for vessels related to green ship fuel, including ocean-going vessels in Hong Kong using or refueling designated green ship fuel, and vessels carrying green ship fuel for local consumption. The plan covers green ship fuels including liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and biodiesel (with at least 20% biofuel content). Eligible ocean-going vessels carrying out designated operations during their visit to Hong Kong can apply for a refund of port fees paid under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance (Chapter 313A), including port facility and light dues, anchorage fees, buoy fees, and outward clearance fees, with a discount amount equal to 25% or 50% of the fees paid. Qualified shipowners or agents must submit the application form and supporting documents to the Hong Kong Maritime Department within three months after the vessel's departure from Hong Kong, and the approved discount amount will generally be disbursed within 30 working days. In addition, the "Green Ship Registration Incentive Scheme" offers discounts to existing or newly registered green fuel-powered vessels with the Hong Kong Ship Registry to attract and maintain green vessels registered in Hong Kong. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Maritime Department stated, "Following the introduction of the 'Green Ship Fuel Refueling Incentive Scheme' last year, the new scheme further provides incentives to encourage the industry to adopt green ship fuel, which is generally more expensive than traditional fuels, and to establish early demand for green ship fuel refueling services in Hong Kong, attracting different participants in the green ship fuel supply chain, such as fuel suppliers, refueling operators, and traders, to establish and expand their businesses in Hong Kong. We expect the new scheme to attract over 1,000 visits from green ship fuel-related vessels to Hong Kong." Under the scheme, all Hong Kong-registered vessels using green ship fuel as their primary propulsion fuel can apply. Eligible green ship fuels include liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen, but do not include traditional fuels and biodiesel. During the three-year period of the scheme, each eligible vessel can receive a registration incentive of HK$60,000 per year, with the length of the discount period depending on the vessel's length of registration at the Hong Kong Ship Registry, with one to three years of discount available, up to a maximum total of HK$180,000 per vessel. Approval and disbursement of incentives will be completed approximately three months after receiving the application and related proof documents, and the vessel must maintain its status as a Hong Kong-registered vessel on the day the incentive is disbursed. The spokesperson said, "This scheme encourages vessels using green ship fuel to register in Hong Kong, while promoting the green transformation of the Hong Kong fleet, further enhancing the overall competitiveness of the Hong Kong Ship Registry. It is expected that the scheme will attract approximately 100 green fuel-powered vessels to register with the Hong Kong Ship Registry, along with the existing green fuel-powered vessels registered in Hong Kong, with around 170 Hong Kong-registered vessels using green ship fuel benefiting from the scheme within the three years of its introduction." The spokesperson continued, "Low carbon and decarbonization are the inevitable main axes of the future development of the shipping industry. Hong Kong's current ship fuel refueling volume ranks first in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, second in the country, and seventh globally. We will uphold our inherent advantages and fully develop the capacity for green ship fuel refueling in Hong Kong, in order to establish Hong Kong as a leading high-quality green ship fuel refueling and trading center."