Port of Rotterdam will offer a substantial port fee reduction for ships that bunker sustainable fuels in Rotterdam, supporting the recently announced Zero Emissions Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA).
ZEMBA recently launched a request for proposals for the transport of 600,000 twenty foot containers (TEU) on ocean-going container vessels powered by zero-emissions fuels. To support this, the Port of Rotterdam offers a port fee reduction for these large container vessels when bunkering sustainable fuels in Rotterdam, which can run up to 500.000 euros in total.
To qualify, a ship has to bunker alternative fuels in Rotterdam with at least 90% reduction in greenhouse gases, such as green methanol or ammonia.
ZEMBA was launched as a nonprofit membership organization in March 2023 by the Aspen Institute, Amazon, Patagonia, and Tchibo to fast-track commercial deployment of zero-emissions shipping services at scale, create a competitive market for these services, and help reduce emissions.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority has also determined that discount does not apply to bio-blended fuel oil, marine gas oil, or marine diesel oil, as that market is already mature in Rotterdam.
The ZEMBA consortium has launched a fantastic initiative with a willingness to pay carriers a premium for the use of zero-emission fuels, which are still more expensive than traditional fuels. With the additional support from our side we want to give carriers maximum incentive to make this switch.
… said Boudewijn Siemons, COO and CEO a.i. of the Port of Rotterdam
In 2022, the port launched a Green & Digital Corridor project together with the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, which also offers discounts for carriers using sustainable fuels. This means ships using sustainable fuels on the Singapore-Rotterdam trade lane can benefit from financial incentives from both ports as well as ZEMBA.
