The Marine Department today announced that its Green Incentive Scheme, which aims to encourage green transformation in the maritime industry, is open for applications from eligible Hong Kong-registered ships until December 31, 2026. 

Under the scheme, all Hong Kong-registered ships of 5,000 gross tonnage or above and with a valid compliance statement are eligible for to apply for green incentives.

The “Statement of Compliance - Fuel Oil Consumption Reporting & Operational Carbon Intensity Rating” shows that a ship has attained a rating of either A or B in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).

Each qualifiying ship is eligible to receive $20,000 per year from 2024 to 2026. A ship with a CII rating of A or B throughout each of the three years may receive a maximum incentive of $60,000.

The scheme originates from the Government’s Action Plan on Maritime & Port Development Strategy, which was promulgated in December last year. The Government allocated $65 million in the 2024-25 Budget to implement the scheme.

The department said that Hong Kong, China, as an IMO associate member, is committed to supporting the organisation’s decarbonisation initiatives. While various green incentives have been introduced elsewhere, Hong Kong is the first place to roll out a CII-related inventive scheme.

The measure will help to promote the image of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry as a green fleet and reinforce its brand in the international maritime arena, the department added.