Port of Rotterdam: Staying ahead of the curve

In an interview with Maritime Fairtrade, Robert Simons, vice mayor of Rotterdam, Netherlands, who is responsible for port, economy, hospitality and governance, said he believes the Port of Rotterdam’s commercial vibrancy and global influence stem from being able to understand the industry and moving ahead of the times. 

The Port of Rotterdam is the largest and one of the most important ports in Europe. In the first half of 2024, cargo throughput reached 220 million tons. Container throughput increased by 4.2 percent (in tonnage) and 2.2 percent (in TEUs). The net profits for the same period increased by €31.7 million (US$34.3 million) to €148.2 million as compared to the same period last year. As succinctly put by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, “If the port of Rotterdam is doing well, Europe’s economy is doing well.”

When asked about two key trends that will spread throughout port cities in the near future, Simons began with energy transition, in which hydrogen will play a major role. The Port of Rotterdam is taking the lead, as it “aspires to become the hydrogen hub of Europe.”

“It is no coincidence that the last World Hydrogen Summit was organized in Rotterdam,” Simons said. “The Port of Rotterdam is currently exploring the possibilities of importing green hydrogen through more than 150 projects worldwide. Agreements have already been signed with 25 countries across the globe.”

Additionally, the Port of Rotterdam has projects underway to reduce CO2 emissions by storing them underground. For example, in the Porthos project, approximately 37 million tons (Mton) of CO2 from the port will be transported and stored in empty gas fields under the North Sea. 

“Capturing and storing CO2 is a significant contribution to our national climate objectives,” Simons explained. As a matter of fact, €20.4 million of capital investment was pumped into this project to fulfill these business objectives, one-eighth of total gross investments in the first half of 2024. 

Moreover, Rotterdam is an industry leader in implementing shore power, the electrical power supply given to ship when it is docked at the port. Simons said that by supplying electricity to large ships, they can turn off their polluting diesel generators, which significantly reduces harmful emissions and improves air quality. “Our goal is to provide all large container ships with shore power by 2028.”

Another key trend the vice mayor identified was digitalization. “Innovative technology plays a crucial role in the enormous transition we are undergoing, and Rotterdam is fully committed to it,” Simons said. And that is because a successfully sustainable port needs to be a smart port as well, he added. 

These two are not just trends, but also the two greatest challenges that large ports are currently facing – very much like a double-edged sword. It is a formidable feat, to say the least, in maintaining and upkeeping the largest port in Europe. What does it take to ensure optimal and efficient operation of the Port of Rotterdam? Simons replied that as a port city, Rotterdam needed to invest in international collaborations for using sustainable fuels on designated routes, known as green corridors. 

Simons said: “In 2022, for instance, the Port of Rotterdam and the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the longest Green and Digital Corridor in the world. The aim is to realize the first sustainable shipping on this route by 2027.”

Besides that, Rotterdam has also invested in the Delta Rhine Corridor (DRC), a crucial infrastructure project that provides underground pipes and cables for the transport of hydrogen, CO2, ammonia and direct current from the Port of Rotterdam to South Limburg and Germany. “This connection is vital for the sustainability of industrial clusters along this route and directly contributes to the international energy transition,” Simons added.

Photo credit: City of Rotterdam. Robert Simons, vice mayor of Rotterdam.

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