International regulations

Shipping is governed by international laws, including the MARPOL Convention, the Helsinki Convention and EU directives. These form the basis of the Swedish Maritime Administration´s (Sjöfartsverket) Code of Statutes. These state, among other things, what certain regulated exceptions there are to the ban on the release of sewage waste, for example when a vessel has a certified wastewater treatment facility aboard, that the results of sample testing in such cases is available and that waste is finely dispersed. Ports of Stockholm is therefore unable to make it mandatory for shipping companies to offload black and grey water while in port, run on low sulphur fuel, use catalytic convertors etc.

Discounts on port fees

Ports of Stockholm offers environmentally differentiated port fees, or in other words shipping companies using our ports pay a discounted fee when they call in to our ports if they meet certain environmental standards. The largest discounts in fees are given to the vessels that use low sulphur fuels and those with catalytic converters fitted to all engines. Discounted fees also apply to vessels that run on low sulphur fuel, that have implemented measures to reduce nitric oxide emissions, that sort their waste at source/recycle and so minimise amounts of refuse, as well as to twin hull tankers.

Cold ironing

Provision of shore-to-ship electricity reduces the environmental impact of a vessel by enabling the auxiliary engines to be shut down while the vessel is in port. The use of cold ironing is a good alternative in reducing emissions and noise pollution from vessels at the quayside. The technologies are under development; it is not yet as simple as just plugging in to the nearest electricity source.

Black and grey water

There have been facilities in place for a long time, with good capacities, to enable black and grey water to be offloaded at the quayside at Ports of Stockholm’s ports. These facilities are used in the daily operations of all of the shipping companies operating regular scheduled services. It is also possible to offload black and grey water at each of the quays used by cruise ships, free of charge, at Ports of Stockholm’s ports. Vessels also have the option of offloading black and grey water to tanker trucks and barges in Stockholm.

Managing refuse/recycling

To manage the refuse from the archipelago, Lake Mälaren traffic and the sightseeing boats there are subterranean refuse management facilities at several of the quaysides, including facilities at Strandvägen and Klara Mälarstrand. These facilities enable general waste to be sorted, as well as metal, cardboard, coloured and clear glass to be recycled.

Regular scheduled services have their own refuse management facilities located at the ports. Waste management/recycling procedures are established and waste reports are submitted regularly.

Noise Pollution

We are striving to reduce the noise-levels produced by port activities. If a vessel is perceived to be the source of disturbing noise levels we try, whenever possible, to implement measures to reduce noise levels by contacting the captain of the vessel and discussing the possibilities of altering running conditions or moving the vessel to another quay-berth.