Implementing Sustainable Fees in the Ship Waste Reception Service to Match with European Policy and Port Traffic Characterization

The European Directive in force on port reception facilities for waste from ships applicable to both ports and ships has the aim of protecting the marine environment. To promote this goal, the directive imposes on every member state the availability of port reception facilities adequate in meeting the needs of the ships normally using the ports without causing undue delay in their operations. As an effective tool to discourage the discharges of waste at sea, the new policy requires ports to implement a cost recovery system for the waste reception service through mandatory fees to be paid by ships irrespective of the volume of waste delivered at port. In the context of the obligations that European ports must fulfill according to the new policy on waste from ships, the present study analyzes the Spanish ports’ database. The research relates traffic characterization with the economic results of the waste reception service in each port authority to ensure that the effective reception costs are covered. The findings will enable building a robust port fee system adapted to the ship typology with the aim of mitigating economic imbalances and ensuring that ships contribute to the port reception facilities’ costs according to their characteristics.