WPCAP ports decide on 2021 actions

Hosted by Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the WPCAP CEO conference on 2 February saw port CEOs in working groups present a series of actions for 2021.

“What binds us is a common belief that we have a role to play in fuelling the energy transition,” said Mr Castelein.

Energy efficiency

The first agreement was made on the topic of enhanced energy efficiency. The group noted work being undertaken by the IMO Global Industry Alliance to support Low Carbon Shipping (GIA) and subject matter experts of ports, terminals and shipping. This work is about identifying nine measures that ports could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. These measures will first be discussed with interest groups and advocacy organisations from both ports and shipping sector by the end of February during an IMO GIA meeting.

The CEO’s agreed that each port would at least implement one measure this year, ranging from speed and dead weight optimisation to facilitating main engine repairs and hull cleaning during cargo operations.

Shore power

The working group assessed the financial benefits of ports working closer together in shore power coalitions. Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre and Rotterdam will now work together on investment plans and jointly approach ship owners as shore power means adjustments both in ports and on ships.

Sustainable fuels

On the topic of accelerating and growing the use of sustainable marine fuels for deep-sea/ocean-going vessels, the ports agreed to continue to work together with all port customers. The CEO’s committed to focusing more on alternative fuels in engagements at their ports, with for instance shipping lines.

The database that has been put together on cargo handling equipment to help realise climate neutral ports will continue to be used in stakeholder engagement, especially with terminal operators.

Incentives

The policy working group stressed that policy instruments remain an important tool to stimulate emission reductions in the maritime industry, using for instance incentives, pricing policies and regulations – taking in mind guiding principles of competition law. The WPCAP CEO’s made it clear that there are various ways to achieve results on this topic.

Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, encouraged consideration of how port incentive programmes can be aligned around common themes of criteria focused on CO2 reduction.

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, supports sharing best practises with a view to a coordinated approach. The working group will report back on this direction later this year.

12 member ports

WPCAP was launched in September 2018. Ports in the network include Antwerp, Barcelona, Gothenburg, Hamburg, HAROPA port of Le Havre, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Rotterdam, Valencia, Vancouver, and Yokohama.

The next WPCAP CEO conference is planned for October.