Pacific International Lines (PIL), Singapore’s leading containership operator, has successfully attained Environmental Ship Index(ESI) certification for its fleet comprising of half a million TEUs, the company said in its release.
This is a major milestone for the Singaporean shipowner ahead of the transition towards the Global Sulphur Cap 2020 from 1 January next year.
ESI certification is an on-going initiative by the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP) and it is a voluntary program for ship owners to enroll their vessels – attesting that their vessels exceed the basic standard set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
To qualify for certification, vessels have to demonstrate that their emission level of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and Sulphur Oxide (SOx) and Carbon Oxide (CO2) is well below what is allowed by the IMO. This is a perfect indicator of the environmental performance of the ocean-going vessels and will encourage the adoption of green vessels. Many leading shipping lines have since participated in this program and this effort is well-recognised by many leading ports in the world including US, Europe and Asia.
The International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH) set up the WPSP in 2017, with the aim of enhancing and coordinating future sustainability efforts of ports worldwide as well as fostering international cooperation with partners in the supply chain.
About PIL
Pacific International Lines (PIL) is the world’s 10th top containership operator and one of the largest shipowners in Southeast Asia. PIL owns and operates with a fleet of around 150 container and multi-purpose vessels, serving over 500 locations in 100 countries worldwide. The group has several business units such as container manufacturing, ship recycling, marine service, real estate, depot and logistics services. One of PIL’s subsidiaries, Singamas Container Holdings Ltd, is one of the largest container manufacturers in the world.