Full Exemption of Port Facility Usage Fees... Busan Port Strengthens Support for Vessels Using Onshore Power Supply Equipment (AMP)

Busan Port Authority.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan Port Authority (BPA) is activating the Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) facilities installed at Busan Port to reduce air pollutants emitted by ships and is strengthening support for ships using the facilities.

Starting in April, ships calling at the North Port that use AMP will be fully exempted from port facility usage fees such as ship entry and exit fees, berth fees, and anchorage fees until the end of 2023.

Considering the burden on shipping companies to install AMP power receiving facilities on small and medium-sized vessels, BPA plans to install one portable low-voltage transformer within this year to supply shore power using the ship's existing equipment.

At the New Port, two portable extension cables will be installed in the first half of this year so that large vessels equipped with shore power receiving facilities can use AMP regardless of their berthing location.

This is to ensure that large vessels calling at ports where AMP use is mandatory, such as Los Angeles in the United States, can receive shore power even if they cannot berth at AMP-equipped berths due to changes in their arrival schedules.

BPA installed eight AMP facilities at New Port's Pier 3 and Pier 4 in 2019 to reduce air pollutants emitted while ships docked at the pier are loading and unloading containers.

Last year, the facilities were expanded to the North Port with 12 additional units installed at Gamman Pier and Sinseondae Pier, but utilization rates remain low.

In the case of the New Port, it is difficult to use AMP if the ship does not berth adjacent to the AMP facilities, and at the North Port, most of the ships calling are old and lack onboard high-voltage power receiving equipment.

Domestic ports have not yet mandated the use of AMP for ships, and shore power usage fees are more expensive than engine fuel costs. The lack of government support for facility modifications on ships without AMP receiving equipment also hinders activation.

Along with expanding AMP installation, there have been ongoing calls for the government and public sector to play a role in promoting ship usage of AMP.

Kang Jun-seok, President of BPA, said, “To realize a clean port by reducing air pollutants emitted by ships, activating AMP is essential. Besides legal amendments such as mandating AMP use, we will actively promote initiatives that Busan Port Authority can directly undertake.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.