Report

Charges for barges?

This report studies potential pricing policies to reduce emissions in inland shipping, with a focus on NOx emissions. It shows that it is indeed possible to design economic incentives that will induce the owners of inland vessels to invest in emission reducing technology. The potential for emission reduction is considerable. Measures to reduce emissions in inland shipping are as cost effective as options in other modes of transport. Three types of economic incentives have been studied in more detail: a differentiated fuel charge, a differentiated waterway charge and differentiated harbour dues. All incentives act by charging vessels with low emissions less than vessels with high emissions. The main obstacles for the introduction of incentives are existing legislation, particularly the Mannheim Convention, and the absence or relative low levels of current taxes and fees compared to the incentives that are needed for inducing cleaner engines.

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