Fortnightly maritime news for the industry and PortXL community
European ports must gear up ‘reinvention’ for energy transition role shift
Ports could be “front-runners” of Europe’s energy transition, reinventing themselves to service a future ‘blue economy’ of industries including offshore wind and hydrogen-powered shipping, and at the same time become export hubs channelling electricity through an EU-wide offshore power grid, according to a first in-depth study of the sector’s clean-energy transition by DNV GL.
Rotterdam poised to become international hydrogen hub
Rotterdam has the potential to establish itself as a leading international hub for hydrogen flows, similar to the port’s current role in the oil economy, according to a new report published by the Dutch Research Institute For Transitions (DRIFT).
Container shipping sails into a future driven by technology
The future of the shipping industry is likely to continue to include cargo containers, but it will also likely include emphasis on digitalisation to improve efficiency in trade routes and ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The post-pandemic recession could be the moment EU start-ups have waited for
This massive sea change in technology has made software and service delivery remarkably easy and effective from just about anywhere. This trend tracks well with “digital transformation” initiatives taken by some of the largest enterprises. While those efforts may be on hold for now, the companies that were ahead of the curve early on are finding themselves best positioned to withstand the pandemic and emerge stronger on the other side.
Ports have potential to ‘become renewable hubs’
‘Ports: gateways to Europe – 10 Transitions to turn ports into decarbonization hubs’ found that growth in offshore wind and the enforcements needed to connect these facilities to the grid will lead to an “advantageous position” for large industrial ports as hubs for renewable energy generation.
In an integrated energy system, hydrogen can support the decarbonisation of industry, transport, power generation and buildings across Europe. The EU Hydrogen Strategy addresses how to transform this potential into reality, through investments, regulation, market creation and research and innovation.
Ships today are travelling 17.4% slower than before Lehman Brothers collapsed
Taking 2008 as its starting point, Clarkson Research Services has shown how shipping has slowed down further and further since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a trend that shows no sign of abating. Ships today travel 17.4% slower than they did back in 2008. The 2008 starting date for the data is also important as that is the base year for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2050. Data from Clarkson last month shows shipping has slashed its CO2 emissions by 10.7% over the last 10 years.
