Fortnigthly maritime news for the industry and the PortXL community.
Heineken zeros in on emissions-free shipping
The energy containers – ZESpacks – are standard 20ft containers filled with batteries, which are charged with green electricity. The first two ZESpacks are loaded and exchanged at the first charging station at the CCT terminal in Alphen aan den Rijn. ZES’s ambition is to scale up in the short term and aims to realise 30 zero-emission shipping routes by 2030. The company was founded last year by ENGIE, ING, Wärtsilä and the Port of Rotterdam Authority with the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
DNV: Calling the tune on future fuels
The DNV Maritime boss adds: “We are clearly not looking for one winner. The future will hold a number of fuels.” Today’s fuel transition is not like the wholesale move from coal to diesel a century ago, Ørbeck-Nilssen reckons. “The sooner we can realise the multitude of scenarios the better,” he says, brandishing a copy of his chart-packed 2050 forecast. To the many detractors of LNG, Ørbeck-Nilssen’s argument is it is better to get moving rather than waiting years for alternative fuels to have the tech and infrastructure in place to go mainstream.
Maersk invests in California bio-methanol start-up
In a bid to help source suitable quantities of fuel for its landmark new ships, A.P. Moller – Maersk, via its corporate venture arm Maersk Growth, has invested in California-based WasteFuel, a start-up focused on turning waste into sustainable aviation fuel, green bio-methanol, and renewable natural gas. The news comes in the wake of Maersk ordering a series of 16,000 teu methanol duel fuelled ships plus a smaller 2,100 similarly fuelled ship this year – groundbreaking orders for the container sector.
‘300GW hydro black hole’ in climate fight
More than 500GW of hydropower installations are in the pipeline worldwide, but this is far short of what is required to limit global warming, claims a new report published by researchers from the International Hydropower Association. The report assesses pathways to net zero modelled by the IEA and International Renewable Energy Agency, against current and future planned hydropower capacity.
Orders for LNG-fueled Ships Are on the Rise
This year is shaping up to be a banner year for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel vessel construction contracts, with nearly 30% of the gross tonnage ordered in 2021 comprised of LNG-fueled vessels, according to the latest report from Clarksons.
Søren Skou Calls on IMO to Set “End Date for Fossil-Fueled Shipping”
Maersk CEO Søren Skou has thrown down the gauntlet on decarbonization, challenging IMO to set a timeline for phasing out the use of fossil fuels in shipping.” The European Commission is proposing to end production of combustion engine cars in 2035. The International Maritime Organization should do the same for fossil fueled ships with ambitious targets and measures to decarbonize shipping,” Skou said in social media post.
Port of Calais Unveils Long-Awaited Expansion
The Port of Calais has inaugurated a new extension that has been under construction since 2015. The revamped port includes a two-mile dike, 220 acres of additional docking area, three new ferry berths and new buildings for operations and reception of port customers. The new extension of the port will begin operations on October 4, and it is expected to double the previous capacity for visitors crossing from Dover, UK. On average, Calais welcomes 10 million passengers every year in addition to its extensive freight operations.
