Posted on June 19, 2024
The Port of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, and Danish shipping and logistics company, DFDS, have welcomed the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to their Green Shipping Corridor.
By 2030, two ammonia-fuelled RoRo vessels are expected to operate on the routes between Sweden and Belgium, while the ports will step up efforts on electrification and ammonia bunkering.
The corridor connects 11 European countries through sea, land, and rail routes from Norway in Northern Europe to Spain in the South. In this corridor, the Ports of Gothenburg, North Sea Port and Antwerp-Bruges work as transportation hubs as well as important origin and destination zones of industrial activity.
The aim is to have at least two DFDS ammonia-fuelled vessels in operation on the Corridor from 2030, a part of DFDS’s ambition to have six low- and near-zero-emission vessels in operation by 2030.
The ammonia vessels will be complemented by electric trucks and rail transport on land, as well as onshore power supply for the vessels. Therefore, efforts are being intensified by the ports to facilitate electric terminal operations and enable safe ammonia bunkering.
Furthermore, partners are planning to start producing significant amounts of renewable electricity.
DFDS has applied for funding for a total of four ammonia-fuelled vessels and, if the funding is granted, the project including electrification in the ports is expected to reduce 328,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions per year corresponding to around 11 per cent of DFDS’s scope 1 GHG emissions compared to 2023.
“Port of Antwerp Bruges fully endorses the efforts of its customers and partners in prioritising the greening of operations both at sea and on land,” said Luc Arnouts, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges VP of International networks.
“DFDS, an important operator with a daily RoRo freight service to Gothenburg, will contribute to our ambition towards climate-neutral transport in, to and through the port.
“As one of the largest bunker hubs worldwide, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is committed to offering climate-neutral marine fuels and embraces DFDS’s innovative approach of utilising ammonia-powered ro-ro vessels on the corridor.”
Port of Gothenburg, Patrik Benrick, Head of Strategic Development & Innovation further stated: “The Port of Gothenburg is already in the early stages of developing operating regulations for a safe and efficient handling and bunkering of ammonia propelled vessels.
“We are also working on establishing an ammonia value chain, with the purpose of being able to facilitate everything needed for ammonia propelled vessels calling and bunkering in the port on a regular basis in 2030 and beyond.”
Earlier last week, Milence – a joint venture between Daimler Truck, TRATON GROUP, and Volvo Group – opened its largest charging station to date in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
