European ports urge industry to adopt clean fuels

Dutch investments

Port of Rotterdam is also working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and plans to cut CO2 emissions by at least 50% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. All its marine services vessels run on sustainable HVO100 biofuel, and it intends to purchase new emissions-free vessels. It aims to provide shore power to 90% of container, cruise, ferry and passenger ships using the port.

It is investing in infrastructure and green projects. In the Porthos, facilities for transporting and storing CO2 on the Maasvlakte are expected to be operational in 2026, and it is installing shore power in container terminals, such as at Waalhaven.

Over the next five years, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is committed to improving the living environment, safety, nature and biodiversity in and around the port. Other ongoing investments are in Amaliahaven, renovating the Rozenburg Lock and widening the Yangtze Canal. The authority intends to test green dredging activities with a dredger operating on hydrogen fuel under the Prisma programme.

Gasunie, Shell and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are building a plant to produce green hydrogen using offshore wind energy at Maasvlakte and plan to transport it to industrial sites in northern Europe.

Shore power is installed at Heerema’s facilities at Caland Canal for its offshore support vessels and at Waalhaven where Boskalis docks its vessels.

Safety and security

When the EU formulates its strategy for developing sustainable ports in the region, it must enshrine safety as the overarching goal of harbour services, according to the European Tugowners Association (ETA), European Marine Pilots Association (EMPA) and European Dredging Association (EuDA).

The three organisations ran a workshop in mid-March 2025, covering the pivotal role of human action in decarbonising the port services sector. One of the main outcomes from that workshop was that the upcoming European Port Strategy should be all-comprehensive, “addressing a number of issues that affect the environmental and social sustainability of the European port services community,” the three organisations said in a joint statement.

“The European Port Strategy should adopt a sustainable approach that balances environmental considerations and social aspects,” they said. “Additionally, it should acknowledge the full complexity of the logistics ecosystem within ports. In this context, it is important to highlight the main and most essential goal of port services is safety.”

The approach to safety is paramount for ports. It encompasses protecting port workers and residents, navigational safety, protecting port assets, and safety for visiting vessels, the groups said. And these protections must be undertaken while ensuring operational efficiency and environmental protection.

EMPA, ETA and EuDA are calling for further investment in harbours and port services, such as pilotage, towage and dredging, to fulfil safety commitments and achieve climate goals.

Revenue from the EU’s emissions trading scheme could be used to facilitate decarbonisation in ports and port services.

“It is crucial funding is directed toward ports and harbour services,” said the ETA, EMPA and EuDA. “Ports should be recognised as green energy hubs… and play an essential part in decarbonising the shipping sector.”

These organisations are calling on the European Commission to simplify policies and ensure regulation compliance is streamlined “to ensure a level playing field among ports.”

They want the European port strategy to address geopolitical risks impacting maritime operations, such as GPS jamming and spoofing, cyber attacks on navigation systems and damage to subsea cables, and to prioritise security as a fundamental factor.

“Within this unpredictable context, highly trained professionals, such as maritime pilots, are essential as they can override autonomous systems and safely navigate and manoeuvre ships, keeping supply chains open and the environment clean,” said the EMPA, ETA and EuDA.