UK port drives forward net-zero strategy

by Martyn Wingrove

The trust port at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northeast England, UK, is investing in green corridors with other ports in Europe, drop-in fuels for its harbour vessels and renewable energy.

But it is up to tug owners using the port, including Svitzer and a Boluda Towage subsidiary, to invest in decarbonising their assets.

Port of Tyne chief executive Matt Beeton said the port has a vision for a sustainable and innovative future, of becoming a global centre for renewable energy and supply chains, while remaining a deepsea hub. He expects investment from offshore windfarm developers and operators at the port, in alternative fuel bunkering and technology innovations in Newcastle, to continue, helping to achieve the wider UK government strategy to enable national ports to become leaders in the maritime green transition.

UK Minister for aviation, maritime and security, Mike Kane, said the nation’s Shore funding programme has invested more than £200M (US$253M) to help “clean-up maritime” and to “create growth opportunities”.

The latest round of this programme has attracted 300 organisations for a shared pot of grants worth £100M to cover feasibility studies into clean technology and resources, such as generating green fuels from renewable sources, shore power and autonomous vessels.

“The UK can become the global leader in clean maritime,” said Mr Kane. His department is working with the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency to develop regulations and have discussions with IMO about international regulations to facilitate the green maritime transition and adoption of autonomous vessels.

He highlighted the important part ports play in this transition, with the Port of Felixstowe investing in electric vehicles to move containers.

Mr Kane also highlighted, as another positive investment, Port of Tyne’s drive to change from diesel lorries to electric robotic vehicles to transport containers around the port.

Port of Tyne head of health, safety and environment, James Wright, said the port has progressed on reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions and is looking at ways to lower Scope 3, which is far tougher.

He said the port operates its own pilot vessels, launches, quayside cranes and plant, which puts them under Scope 1 and 2. Transitioning these to lower carbon or net-zero carbon would require considerable investment and drop-in fuels, such as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which is increasingly used by other vessels and in the aviation industry, and is thus becoming more expensive.

“With our vessels, we are using transition fuels such as renewable HVO, before turning to alternative fuels and potentially other powertrains,” he told Riviera. “It is about looking for the right technology. Our cranes and plant require high power.”

When asked about the tugboats, Mr Wright said these were outside any scope for the port, although they use its infrastructure and provide services to ships in the harbour. He said tugs were chartered by shipowners, so would be part of their Scope 3.

Svitzer is a world-leader in implementing HVO on its tugboat fleet in the UK, offering environmental low-carbon towage to shipowners.

Port of Tyne manager of innovation for sustainability and energy, Eleni Bougioukou, said a green corridor is being considered between Newcastle and a port close to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This would involve “vessels running on zero-emissions fuels between the ports” and for ships to bunker these fuels from both ports.

This study is with roro ferry operator DFDS, while Mitsui OSK Lines is also looking at a green corridor between Tyne and the Netherlands using low-emissions fuels such as bio-diesel or methanol on car carriers.

“From the beginning, everyone is on board and reassured, so we can accelerate the transition” said Dr Bougioukou.

source : rivieramm