OceanScore Appointed Global Administrator of Environmental Ship Index from January 2026
OceanScore has been appointed as the new administrator of the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), taking over the role with effect from 1 January 2026, following an announcement by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). The move marks a significant step in strengthening one of the shipping industry’s most widely used environmental incentive schemes.
The Environmental Ship Index is a voluntary, industry-driven framework that allows ports to reward vessels achieving environmental performance levels beyond mandatory regulatory requirements. Ship owners and operators registered under ESI can benefit from incentives such as reduced port dues, based on independently verified environmental criteria.
For ports and maritime authorities, ESI offers a consistent and transparent mechanism to recognize greener ships, support sustainability-linked incentive programmes, and demonstrate climate action that goes beyond their direct Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The scheme is currently supported by more than 70 ports and maritime administrations worldwide, with over 6,500 vessels registered, making it the most extensively adopted environmental incentive system in global shipping.
Developed by leading ports in cooperation with IAPH, ESI has been fully embedded within the organisation’s governance structure since 2020. Under the new agreement, OceanScore becomes the globally exclusive administrator of the index and will work closely with IAPH, the ESI Board, and the ESI Technical Advisory Group to ensure continuity, transparency and consistent application of the framework.
IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven said the partnership with OceanScore will help ensure ESI continues to serve as the global benchmark for incentivising improved environmental performance in shipping. He noted that, amid uncertainty surrounding long-term maritime decarbonisation pathways, ESI remains a trusted and evolving tool for ports seeking to reward vessels that reduce emissions beyond the IMO baseline.
