Major ports agree to accelerate alternative fuels uptake

The World Ports Climate Action Program (WPCAP) is backed by 12 ports and will focus on facilitating bunkering and adoption of low- and zero-emission fuels.

The WPCAP consortium, led by Rotterdam, is made up of 12 major ports across the world. Other members are European ports of Antwerp, Barcelona, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Haropa (Le Havre–Rouen–Paris), Valencia, the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver and Yokohama.

The 12 ports have teamed up with International Association of Ports and Harbours’ Clean Marine Fuels working group to create a Port Readiness Framework. This framework will help ports around the world to develop bunkering of alternative marine fuels, said the Port of Rotterdam.

The ports’ aim is to build out bunker infrastructure for alternative fuels and send supply signals to incentivise shipowners to deploy more low- and zero-carbon vessels along green corridors between Singapore, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Rotterdam. In a joint statement they said they will work to develop green shipping corridors throughout the world.

“Given the urgency of the climate crisis and shipping’s commitments to reducing emissions in line with international regulations, we must take action now,” said Namrata Nadkarni, chair of the sustainable fuels working group at WPCAP. “It took almost nine years shipping to adopt LNG as a marine fuel. We cannot wait that long for the deployment of ammonia, methanol, hydrogen and other clean fuels.”

Additionally, the alliance plans to speed up installations of more shore power in ports, especially in the northwest European region.
Source: Engine