Germany’s ports of Hamburg and Bremen are at risk of having their expansion plans hindered as a result of a recent European Court of Justice ruling that articulates how damage to water quality should be considered while dredging rivers, according to gCaptain.
Despite the challenges surrounding river dredging, the EU-funded ‘EcoHubs’ project has successfully delivered a number of ICT tools that could help to lower carbon emissions of ports and terminals.
To read a Technical Paper on green ports and their trade offs and win-wins, click here
The Association of Hamburg Port Operating Companies, UVHH, said: “In view of the overriding public interest the port industry is optimistic that despite the stringent conditions in the water regulations, the deepening and widening of the Elbe will achieve planning approval.”
Manfred Braasch, CEO of German Environmental Protection Association BUND, said: “The decision from the European Court today on the appeal by BUND against the deepening of the Weser will strengthen protection of water in Germany and throughout Europe.”
Environmental concerns have taken the interest of many ports globally, with the Port of Long Beach being famed for its award-winning ‘Green Port Policy’, an initiative that has now been in effect for around 10 years.
Shipping lines are also making headway with their environmentally-friendly schemes; Maersk has recently implemented its eco-container initiative that aims to lower emissions by around 60% per container.
