Fortnigthly maritime news for the industry and the PortXL community.
Port of Rotterdam Freight Volumes Rise 15% as Economy Recovers
Freight volumes in the port of Rotterdam increased 15% on a yearly basis in the third quarter as international trade continued to recover from its COVID-19 slump. Trade flows to and from Rotterdam have been almost 9% higher in the first nine months of the year, with strong growth in almost all segments, the port said.
Amazon, Ikea and Unilever pledge zero emission shipping by 2040
Amazon, Ikea, Unilever and Michelin are among nine multinational companies that have committed to switching all of their ocean freight to vessels powered by zero-carbon fuels by 2040. Through a new cargo owner-led network facilitated by the Aspen Institute, a group of companies, which also includes Inditex, Patagonia, Brooks Running, Frog Bikes and Tchibo, stated that fuels used to reach the 2040 target must be scalable and have no greenhouse gas emissions, including production.
Proman, Stena to support industry’s methanol era with new retrofit and supply solution
Swiss-based integrated energy company Proman has teamed up with Swedish shipping company Stena to develop a retrofit and supply solution that will allow vessels to run on methanol as a marine fuel. As informed, the new solution will be used to power both Stena’s vessels and third-party ships and is expected to contribute to lowering CO2 emissions.
Maersk invests in Dutch lignin producer
Another piece of Maersk’s future fuel jigsaw is coming into place. Maersk Growth, the corporate venture arm of A.P. Moller – Maersk, has invested in Vertoro – a Dutch start-up focused on developing liquid lignin technology which can be used as a marine fuel. Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers which form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants.
Government 2030 fossil fuel output forecasts ‘vastly in excess’ of Paris limits: UN
Despite raised climate action ambitions, governments around the world are currently planning production of fossil fuels by the end of the decade that is “more than double” the output that would be in keeping with limiting global heating to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to new figures published by the United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP).
Belgium’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Officially Inaugurated
The 487 MW SeaMade offshore wind farm was officially inaugurated at an event in the Hippodrome in Ostend, Belgium, on Wednesday, 20 October 2021. SeaMade NV, a joint venture between Otary, Ocean Winds, and Eneco, is responsible for the simultaneous development of both the Mermaid and Seastar offshore wind farms, resulting in the largest wind farm ever financed and built in Belgium.
First High-Pressure Hydrogen Fueling Demonstrated in Japan
In an important step forward in the development of marine applications of hydrogen fuel cells, Japan’s Yanmar Power Technology Co. reported completing the first high-pressure hydrogen fueling on a demonstration boat. The results obtained during the fueling test and subsequent operation of the vessel will be used to advance the practical application of hydrogen fuel cell systems and the study of the future marine hydrogen infrastructure.
