Hot Port News from GAC
12-May-2021
TRANSITION TO CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2030
Panama Canal, Panama
WITHDRAWAL OF CARGO JETTY FOR MAINTENANCE & DREDGING
Deendayal, India
NEARLY €25 MILLION EU FUNDING AWARDED TO ‘GREEN PORT PROJECT’
Rotterdam, Netherlands
DEFERRAL OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ESCALATED SCALE OF RATES
Chennai, India
Transition to carbon neutral by 2030
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, Panama Canal, Panama
The Panama Canal [has] launched its process of decarbonizing its operations, with aims of becoming carbon neutral by 2030…
…While the Panama Canal contributed to a reduction of more than 13 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2020 by offering a shorter route for ships in comparison to the most likely alternative routes, the waterway recognizes the importance of making its own operation carbon neutral by the end of the decade.
To kick off the transition to a greener Canal, the waterway purchased four electric vehicles as part of a pilot program that will collect data to inform the migration of the Canal’s entire fleet away from fossil fuel dependence. Part of its strategic decarbonization plan also includes tugboats and launches that use alternative fuels, the substitution of electricity production processes in favor of photovoltaic plants, the use of hydraulic energy, and ensuring that all facilities and infrastructure projects are environmentally responsible and sustainable.
The Panama Canal first began tracking its carbon footprint in 2013 to align its operations with the global objectives of reducing emissions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Its plans to become carbon neutral were bolstered in 2017 with the launch of its Emissions Calculator, a tool that not only allows shipping lines to measure their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per route, but also strengthens the Canal’s analysis of the emissions produced by its own day-to-day operations.
To reduce its own impact, the Panama Canal has also taken steps to find ways to maximize its operational, and thus environmental efficiencies, whether by implementing water conservation measures or optimizing transits…
…On April 22, Earth Day, the Panama Canal also joined the Declaration of the “50 First Carbon-Neutral Organizations”, an initiative led by Panama’s Ministry of Environment to integrate national efforts to accelerate measurable climate actions.
The Canal will develop an annual greenhouse gas inventory, as well as an action plan with measurable targets to reduce emissions… …The Panama Canal’s efforts have since stretched beyond tracking to include initiatives aimed at helping and incentivizing shipping lines to minimize their environmental footprint. Through its Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program, the Canal recognizes customers who demonstrate excellent environmental stewardship, including the use of low-carbon fuels and environmentally conscious routes. As an enhancement to this program, the Panama Canal is currently analyzing, taking into account in its dynamic pricing strategy, the vessels’ technology and its carbon footprint, which makes it more efficient during transit…
…Through environmental programs in its watershed, the Panama Canal has contributed to Panama’s ranking as one of only three carbon negative countries in the world, meaning Panama’s forests absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than the country emits…
(For information about operations in the Panama Canal, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com)
Source: Extract from Panama Canal Authority Monthly Canal Operations Summary
Withdrawal of cargo jetty for maintenance & dredging
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, Deendayal, India
Cargo Jetty No.10 [at Deendayal port] will be withdrawn for maintenance & dredging work from 15 May 2021 onwards up to next 10 days.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Deendayal Port Trust Trade Notice dated 11 May 2021
Nearly €25 million EU funding awarded to ‘green port project’
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, Rotterdam, Netherlands
An international alliance of 45 companies, knowledge institutes and port authorities, headed by the Port of Rotterdam Authority, has been awarded nearly €25 million in EU funding. The consortium will be using this grant to execute 10 pilot projects and demonstration projects that focus on sustainable and smart logistics in port operations. In the years ahead, the transport sector is expected to transition to clean power.
A number of renewable fuels and energy carriers are currently being developed further, including green hydrogen, large electric batteries, ammonia and bio-LNG… …The consortium’s broad, international research programme primarily focuses on those aspects in the use of new fuels and energy carriers that have not yet been tested in practice. This includes production, transport, storage, distribution (fuels) and charging (electric power).
Examples include the operation of an electric battery-powered locomotive that uses power from an overhead line for both motive power and for recharging its battery, allowing it to work in areas that lack an overhead line – marshalling yards, for instance. Other examples include bunkering ammonia as a transport fuel, or electrical power from shore for ships moored offshore to a mooring buoy.
The partners will also design and implement several digitalisation and automation solutions in the context of the energy transition. In addition, they will be exploring how best to encourage companies to raise the sustainability of their logistics processes. And finally, one of the consortium’s outputs involves the development of a master plan that sets out how transport in, to and from the ports can be made carbon-free by 2050 – and what needs to be done in this context before 2030 and 2040.
The project comes out of a collaboration between the port authorities of Rotterdam, DeltaPort (Germany), HAROPA PORT (France: Le Havre, Rouen, Paris) and Sines (Portugal), in partnership with 10 research institutes and over 30 companies in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Portugal, Denmark and Sweden… …The research project will run for five years…
(For information about operations in the Netherlands, contact GAC Netherlands at netherlands@gac.com)
Source: Extract from Port of Rotterdam (www.portofrotterdam.com) press release dated 11 May 2021
Deferral of implementation of escalated Scale of Rates
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, Chennai, India
The escalation factor of 0.55% in the Scale of Rates of Chennai Port Trust was to take effect from 1 May 2021.
Based on the representation from the trade body to rescind the SoR increase effect from 1 May 2021 and help the trade survive the situation brough about by COVID-19 second wave, the competent authority has considered the request and the escalation of 0.55% for the year 2021-22 in the Scale of Rates will be implemented from 1 July 2021 instead of 1 May 2021.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Chennai Port Trust letter dated 11 May 2021
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