Flexibility needed for climate emergency

This was the message stressed by Isabelle Ryckbost, secretary general of ESPO, after the EP approved a resolution to action the climate and environmental emergency. Members of the EP also want the Commission to ensure that all relevant legislative and budgetary proposals are fully aligned with the objective of limiting global warming to under 1.5 °C.

Noting the resolution’s call for port electrification, Ms Ryckbost said that while ports fully support greening and decarbonisation, they are taking a cautious approach to shore power investment in line with legislation now in place for EU member states to implement it in big ports to by 2025. This is because while investment aims to meet demand, it needs to be assessed to see if it is cost effective and environmentally beneficial and this may not be the case in every port as it is not a one-size-fits-all technology.

“Member ports really want to invest in it and do it where appropriate, but there is a reluctance for this to be mandatory everywhere,” Ms Ryckbost said. “It’s clear that OPS will be part of the solution, only for some part of ports and some kind of vessels. There may be other solutions that are more effective.”

Ports want to avoid a situation where there is too strict an obligation and a high development of fuels within the next decade resulting in ships not needing to plug in to ports because they have a more cost-effective solution, leaving the port to suffer the financial consequences of investing in a under-utilised or even redundant technology.

She also reiterated ESPO’s stance that the port and shipping sectors must work together on green issues, but the shipping sector needs to take the initiative in deciding what sustainability pathways to take.

“Ports can do a lot for shipping but shipping sector is in the driving seat. They will have to make the choice. “