The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets stopped its anticartel investigation in the bunker sector in the Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Antwerp triangle, as it did not find any actual cartel agreement. Although between 2011 and 2014, discussions about a price-fixing agreement were held, they did not result in an actual cartel agreement.
The European inland shipping sector has signed the Declaration of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, on 13 April, reflecting the commitment of the sector to expedite the greening process in the years ahead, to uphold its competitiveness vis-à-vis road and rail transport, as well as to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by 2030.
Dutch-based dredging company Van Oord has launched its first LNG-powered crane vessel, ‘Werkendam’, in the Waalhaven in Rotterdam, marking “the start of a new generation of dredging vessels”, that will focus on energy efficiency as a priority in the company’s sustainability agenda.
Biofuels from GoodFuels Marine are now available at the port of Rotterdam, and will be available along inland shipping routes in the Netherlands through the Reinplus Fiwado Bunker bunker network as well, which supplies fuel to inland vessels throughout North West Europe. These fuels aim to save up to 90% CO2 and 100% sulphur compared to fossil fuels.
The Netherlands gave the green light to Gunvor, to build the new facility, without having to conduct an environmental assessment. This facility will give the ability to the refinery to transform high sulphur fuel into other types of fuels. Gunvor’s refinery features a total capacity of 88,000 barrels per day.
The vessels will be the largest fully electric Ro-Ro vessels in the Netherlands, and will operate fully on electricity, providing an emission-free urban transport solution. The new vessels will replace existing ferries that operate on three different routes west of Amsterdam.
Any vessel carrying the Green Award Platinum label will be granted the discount. The Green Award Platinum is awarded by the the Amsterdam and Zaanstad ports, which became the first ports in the Netherldands to award it. The discount for the vessels is effective as of 1 January 2018.
Paris agreement objectives mean that by 2030, the Netherlands will need to have reduced its CO₂ emissions by 49% compared to 1990, so CO₂ emissions are not allowed to exceed certain limits. However, the Paris agreement does not include any statements on the actual use or storage of coal itself, the port of Rotterdam noted.
OOS Energy, from the Netherlands has revealed a Multi Activity Unit vessel that will be a self-propelled jack-up which is set to be used in drilling operations and is equipped with a Plug & Abandonment package.
Port of Amsterdam, STC-Group Holding, and Iskes Towage & Salvage signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Port of Fujairah, focusing on further strategic cooperation in oil storage and bunkering.
