Environment and Sustainability

The road towards zero emissions is fraught with a wide range of challenges and unanswered questions. Equipment OEMs, solution providers, and other stakeholders are making efforts to address these challenges by offering their services and contributions. However, when all these come to the terminal’s table for final decision-making, this becomes a complex puzzle and a complicated task for terminals to plan their roadmap to achieve the zero-emission goals.

At the IAPH World Ports Conference in Hamburg, Syed Rakin Rahman, Staff Reporter at Port Technology International, had the privilege of speaking with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles—the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere. The discussion centred on the transformative role of data in shaping the port’s operations and its broader vision for the future.

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA), the Port of Halifax’s strategic port manager, has a mission to connect with global markets to create value for our customers, partners, visitors and community. We pride ourselves on being a future-focused organisation. The development of our 50-Year Plan, released in June 2022, was grounded in the principle of smart investment. The plan describes port planning to 2070 and considers various benchmarks to trigger expansion.

With a growing global focus on sustainability, the port and terminal industry faces significant pressure to pursue decarbonisation. The electrification of container handling equipment at ports is in its infancy, but the landscape is evolving relatively quickly. Governments and companies are setting timelines for reducing emissions, and C-suite terminal executives with technology and sustainability responsibilities are considering the kinds of solutions that will be necessary to achieve those goals while satisfying the performance requirements of their operations.

Dr. Mathias Dobner discusses the strides BOXBAY has made in revolutionising container handling with its space-efficient high-bay storage solutions, the challenges of widespread adoption, and the company's commitment to sustainability. From reducing energy consumption and land use to exploring innovative applications, BOXBAY aims to lead the industry towards a more sustainable future.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to be climate neutral by 2050. If you look at the modal split of the entire port area in Antwerp, you will see that inland navigation accounts for almost half of all goods transported to and from the port. This means that barge transport delivers or picks up around 100 million tonnes of goods at our port every year.

There are many pathways that can lead to the decarbonisation of ports and terminal operations. The challenge? Harmonising the bustling activity of freight logistics with the pressing need to reduce the environmental footprint.

In the current logistics industry landscape, multimodal transportation is crucial for optimising the movement of goods. With increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and rising costs of traditional methods, sustainable and efficient logistics solutions are more urgent than ever.

Europe can only achieve its climate goals with eco-friendly supply chains. The Port of Hamburg plays an important role in this by combining ship and rail transport in a unique way.

In the vast expanse of maritime operations, where efficiency is king and sustainability reigns supreme, the convergence of cutting-edge technology and industry expertise is reshaping the seascape. Amidst the tumultuous tides of climate change, the maritime sector faces an urgent call to chart a course towards greener, more efficient practices.