LIVE COVERAGE: 'Greening Initiatives in Ports and Hinterland Terminals' Webinar

RAILTARGET brings you live coverage from today's webinar on 'Greening Initiatives in Ports and Hinterland Terminals', part of the Blue Supply Chains project. The session focuses on sustainable strategies to mitigate climate change and improve the environmental performance of the freight sector, with insights from industry experts on green initiatives and investment opportunities.

10:00 Vivin Sudhakar, Project Manager at SGKV, kicked off the webinar with a welcome and an introduction to the BSC project. He explained that the Blue Supply Chains project focuses on enhancing the environmental performance of ports and hinterland terminals through sustainable initiatives, and outlined the project goals, which are focused on implementing greening initiatives in ports and hinterland terminals to improve environmental performance and contributing to climate change across the freight sector.

10:05 Sudhakar presented the Key Facts about the Blue Supply Chains (BSC) project, which runs from January 2023 to December 2025 with a budget of EUR 4.6 million. The project is led by Port of Hamburg Marketing and co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, whose priority focuses on creating water-smart societies to enhance the blue economy. The project involves 20 partners from eight countries in the Baltic Sea Region, with support from 16 associated organizations. These efforts are aimed at fostering greener operations and innovations in ports and terminals across the region.

10:10 He then mentioned that the project is divided into three key teams:

10:15 Sudhakar presented the green port operations, highlighting two major projects: an on-shore power supply solution for fish landing terminals in Denmark, and a retrofitting project in Poland, aimed at converting diesel RTGs to electric-powered cranes.

He also introduced key green energy supply initiatives, such as a collaboration in Umeå, Sweden, to develop a regional green energy supply for transport chains, and a zero-emission inland waterway between Klaipeda and Kaunas, Lithuania.

Lastly, he presented a proof-of-concept for green transport chains, improving rail ferry services between Rostock and Trelleborg, with adjustments planned for both ports to support these eco-friendly solutions.

He also presented the catalogues of greening measures designed to support ports and terminals in their environmental efforts. These include:

10:20 Rémi Penet, Junior Project Officer at UIRR, took the stage to present key figures and reports regarding greening initiatives in ports and terminals:

• He shared that over 5 million road units or 10 million TEU have been removed from road to rail, with 160,000 trains operating per year across 246 country relations.
• UIRR also manages more than 150 terminals, handling over 7 million operations annually, and oversees 12,000 intermodal wagons.

He then discussed the methodology of their multi-level study, which involved desktop research, interviews, and surveys across various stakeholders such as the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Antwerp, and others.

10:25 Penet continued his presentation by outlining the International Framework that guides greening initiatives in ports and terminals:

• IMO (International Maritime Organization): Sets global standards for reducing emissions from ships, focusing on key regulations like EEDI, EEXI, and CII to cut greenhouse gases.
• IAPH (International Association of Ports and Harbors): Promotes environmental best practices with tools like the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) to help ports improve their sustainability.
• ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation): Focuses on sustainable development in EU ports, providing guidelines such as the Green Guide and EcoPorts for creating tailored environmental strategies.
• Green Marine Europe: An NGO offering a voluntary certification program to push participants beyond basic regulatory compliance in terms of environmental performance.

He said it was important to align port operations with these international standards to drive sustainability across the maritime sector.

10:30 Finally, Rémi Penet concluded by presenting the findings from studies on ports and terminals:

• Ports Studied: Penet shared insights from key European ports like Antwerp, Rotterdam, Genoa, and Marseille.

• Terminals Studied: He also discussed findings from terminals such as CFL terminals (Luxembourg), Contargo (a large group of 24 terminals), and others like Interporto Bologna and Terminali Italia.

Main Findings:

• Ports: Penet highlighted that most ports, despite their size, have climate objectives and adequate funding for green projects. Key initiatives include energy sources like on-shore power supply, hydrogen energy hubs, and electrification of vehicle fleets, along with environmental measures such as biodiversity conservation and circular economy efforts.

• Terminals: Most European terminals are small to medium in scale, with many initiatives focusing on electrification of equipment, renewable energy installations, and climate awareness policies. Terminals are also prioritizing efficiency with LED lighting and building renovations, as well as noise reduction efforts.

10:35 The next speaker was Stefan Breitenbach, Head of the Project Department at the Port of Hamburg, who presented the 2040 Port Development Plan, focusing on sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness. The key goals, according to him, include added value, climate protection, and digital transformation. Hamburg is positioning itself as the Port of Innovation, integrating e-commerce, infrastructure upgrades, and climate-friendly initiatives.

Next, he outlined Germany’s national targets for renewables: 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2045. The Port will play a central role in these efforts, focusing on solar, wind, and hydrogen energy.

10:40 Breitenbach emphasized the North German Hydrogen Strategy, where Hamburg plans to produce 30% of Germany’s hydrogen needs by 2030 with 5 GW electrolysis capacity. The Hamburg Hydrogen Industry Grid is already under construction, with a 60 km pipeline planned by 2031.

He also introduced the Clean Port & Logistics Cluster (CPL), aimed at making port handling climate-neutral by 2040. The cluster includes a test site for hydrogen-powered equipment at Tollerort Terminal, with around 50 partners involved.

Finally, Stefan touched on several EU-funded projects, including Blue Supply Chains, to drive decarbonization and shore power initiatives.

10:50 Now, Mario Franzone from the Planning and Development Department at the Port of Genoa, took to presenting several key topics:

• Port Planning: He emphasized how planning at the Port of Genoa has evolved, moving beyond infrastructure to focus on sustainability and harmonizing the relationship between the port and the city. Their long-term goal is to become a zero-emissions port.
• Waste Management: Franzone introduced the Ships Waste Management Plan (2022), which aims to improve waste collection and recycling through better control of activities using digital tools like PMS3D.

• Intermodality Development: He highlighted the port's efforts to increase modal split, focusing on enhancing intermodal transport, improving last-mile infrastructure, and boosting competition. Cooperation with RFI and the completion of key rail projects is crucial to this strategy.
• Rail Traffic and Volumes: There was significant growth in rail traffic between 2011 and 2023, with +87% more trains and +61.9% more TEUs transported by rail, showing a marked shift towards sustainable transport options.

• Rail Services: Franzone presented the port's weekly rail services, including connections across Northern Italy and upcoming links to Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

• Future Infrastructure: Finally, he provided an update on the Terzo Valico dei Giovi project, which is set to become operational by 2027. This infrastructure development is essential for increasing the efficiency of rail transport and supporting the port's long-term sustainability goals.

11:05 Anna Kristiane Schmidt, representing Contargo's Sustainable Solutions Management, took the stage to highlight the company’s innovative green strategies and initiatives. She began by discussing Germany's biggest private charging infrastructure, which features 90 fast-charging points nationwide, supporting efficient three-shift operations.

Next, Schmidt introduced Contargo's emission-reduction product, detailing a comparative analysis of emissions during freight transport. Contargo's solutions have helped cut CO₂ emissions by up to 96% compared to traditional methods.

11:15 Schmidt presented the eActros600, a cutting-edge electric truck first deployed in May 2024, offering up to 740 kWh battery capacity and a range of 300–500 km. Contargo’s fleet also includes versatile electric trucks with 44 tons gross weight—perfect for combined transport logistics.

11:20 She then presented Contargo’s innovative Smart Energy Management system. This system integrates various elements like electrically driven cranes, photovoltaic panels on office roofs, and hybrid or electric vehicles, ensuring optimal energy distribution throughout the terminal.

11:25 Schmidt discussed Contargo's action plan to decarbonize. The timeline highlights milestones from 2019 to 2045, including pioneering heavy e-trucks, expanding the e-fleet, and significant investments in fast-charging infrastructure. By 2030, 33% of their fleet is expected to be electric, with the goal of 100% green electricity by 2045.

11:35 The final presentation of the session came from a representative of Interporto Bologna, highlighting the impressive scale and operations of one of Europe's largest freight villages.

Key points included:

• 4.1 million sq m of total surface and 900,000 sq m of warehouses and offices.
• The hub supports 130 transport and logistics companies, employing 6,000 people within the area.
• Its infrastructure features three intermodal terminals, with rail terminals spanning 665,000 sq m.
• Security and surveillance are handled by an extensive network of 45 cameras, and the village boasts 20 km of optic fiber for ICT solutions.
• The logistics real estate and energy management facilities are cutting-edge, with ongoing projects in photovoltaic plants and energy management services to drive sustainability.

11:40 He discussed key updates on the logistics hub, specifically the expanded railway network connecting major European destinations like the UK, Germany, and Turkey, making it a crucial link for freight movement across Europe.

He also highlighted the new 115,000 sqm intermodal terminal, which will boost capacity with five new 750m rail tracks and an 80,000 sqm stocking yard. The terminal will streamline loading and unloading operations using gantry cranes.

11:45 According to Interporto Bologna, the introduction of a new eGate system with OCR technology will improve traffic flow and cargo handling, ensuring smoother operations. Additionally, the safe parking area for trucks and semitrailers, set for completion by December 2024, will feature a parking management system and power stations.

Finally, he mentioned the hub's comprehensive infrastructure services, including fuel stations, maintenance, and public amenities that fully support logistics operations.

This concludes the 'Greening Initiatives in Ports and Hinterland Terminals' webinar. Thank you for tuning in with RAILTARGET for the live coverage.