The World Port Climate Action Program (WPCAP) will be extended with a new focus on shore power, new fuels and green shipping corridors, agreed CEOs and leaders of 12 leading ports at a meeting in Rotterdam.
Faster adoption of shore power
In the past years, WPCAP has significantly contributed to the faster adoption of shore power at ports, helping to reduce emissions of CO2 and pollutants while ships are at berth. WPCAP members developed a global overview of existing facilities and best practice guidelines on their technical, operational and economic implementation and ports in Northwest Europe agreed on the faster adoption of shore power in an MoU.
We saw a shift from a situation where ports developed a few projects to large scale investment programs – the WPCAP ports present here in Rotterdam are planning more than 160 connection points with a total investment plan of more than 500 million euros.
… said Jarl Schoemaker, shore power program team and WPCAP WG3 team member, Port of Rotterdam
The industry still needs leadership by ports and we need to prove now that we are part of the solution and can create momentum for real change
… said Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam. To remind, in an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Allard Castelein had revealed how the Port Authority embraces sustainability and remains in line with the UN SDGs.
The CEOs discussed the benefits of shore power, including improved air quality and a better working environment for shipping crews. They also exchanged views on stimulating its further adoption, noting that terminals and shipping lines also have an important role to play in this.
Setting the standard for cleaner fuels
The second focus area for WPCAP in the coming years is to facilitate the bunkering and adoption of cleaner fuels. The ports have worked with the IAPH Clean Marine Fuels working group to create a Port Readiness Framework, a self-assessment and communications tool that allows various stakeholders to understand the different levels of research, development and deployment of new fuels at ports around the world.
Given the urgency of the climate crisis and shipping’s commitments to reducing emissions in line with international regulations, we must take action now. It took almost nine years shipping to adopt LNG as a marine fuel. We cannot wait that long.
… said Namrata Nadkarni, chair of the working group on sustainable marine fuels and founder of maritime consultancy Intent Communications.
The tool is expected to be ready for voluntary use by ports towards the end of the year.
Green Corridors to play a key role in the transition
Where the fuel readiness framework will set the standard for the bunkering of new fuels, green corridor initiatives are seen as key to facilitate the deployment of fuels in practice, particularly on longer international shipping routes.
There has been a lot of talk about the need to shift to new fuels in the industry and multiple green corridor initiatives have been announced to address this
…said Heather Tomley, Managing Director of Planning and Environmental Affairs for the Port of Long Beach, California.
WPCAP member ports are already part of five green corridor initiatives, spanning routes around the globe from Singapore and Shanghai to LA, Vancouver and Rotterdam, and WPCAP members agreed to set an example and enable the deployment of more low- and zero carbon vessels along these routes in the coming years.
Green Corridors are about taking that first step that allows users to test fuels and technologies on a less complex scale and an opportunity for mutually reinforcing actions.
… said CEO of the Global Maritime Forum, Johannah Christensen
The need for regional leadership and cooperation
The CEOs called on regional coalitions of the willing to set standards and lead the way for the IMO and the international shipping industry to put in place regulation that will allow the sustainable development of the industry in a level playing field.
The need for a just transition was also emphasized in the discussion, noting the southern hemisphere should also benefit in particular from opportunities in the development of renewable energy sources and fuels. Cooperation between global ports, IAPH and other front runners will play a key role in this.
