Ships also emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere due to burning fossil fuels for engine operation. The port of Barcelona aims to improve and promote the cleanest and most environmentally friendly boats. For this he has presented his Air Quality Improvement Plane in which the main objective is to reduce polluting emissions during its activity.
This initiative proposes to promote liquefied natural gas as an alternative fuel type for freight vehicles and ships. This is a policy of bonuses for boats that are cleaner.
The objectives of this plan are foreseen for 2020 in which the entire renovation of the internal fleet of the port with electric vehicles and the construction of an electrical connection network in the parking areas and public spaces of the port could be carried out.
This plan urges the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to regulate ship gas emissions more ambitiously. The President of the Port of Barcelona, Sixte Chamber, has added:
“The initiative that we propose integrates and systematizes a series of actions that will allow us reduce effectively our contribution to the pollution of the city of Barcelona "
In Spain there are problems when it comes to having a margin of action in terms of bonuses in Spain since the Government does not offer grants to invest in renewable materials. Sixte has stated that it will request the Spanish Government to modify the Port Law in order to increase 5% to 40% the current discount rate. With this measure, it will be possible to attract more cruise ships and cargo ships with less greenhouse gas emissions and therefore improve Barcelona's air quality.