Rotterdam incentivises alternative fuel bunkering

The port said the move supports the recently announced Zero Emissions Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) and recognises front runners in the road to maritime decarbonisation.

“It is vital that the shipping industry makes the switch to zero-emission fuels. 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,” said Boudewijn Siemons, COO and CEO a.i. of the Port of Rotterdam.

”With the additional support from our side we want to give carriers maximum incentive to make this switch.”

Driving sustainability

ZEMBA, an initiative of coZEV, recently launched a request for proposals for the transport of 600,000 teu on ocean-going container vessels powered by zero-emissions fuels.

As part of its ongoing efforts to enable and accelerate the transition to zero-emission shipping, the port will offer a port fee reduction for these large container vessels when bunkering sustainable fuels in Rotterdam, which can run to up to €500.000 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.

The discount does not apply to bio-blended fuel oil, marine gas oil, or marine diesel oil.

Rotterdam already extends discounts to more sustainable vessels that score high on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and is an international front runner in facilitating the bunkering of zero-emission fuels.

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 now benefit from financial incentives from both ports, as well as ZEMBA.