The major global container shipping company Ocean Network Express (ONE) and logistics and container services company QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam (QTKR) have partnered to decarbonise port operations in Rotterdam. Together, the companies claim to have reduced emissions by as much as 500t of CO2 in six months. They cite their combined implementation of a biofuel scheme using HVO100.
ONE and QTKR have been using HVO100, a sustainable biofuel, made from renewable raw materials, to power port shunting operations. According to a joint statement, HVO100, already proven in heavy-duty transport, can cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared with standard diesel. It also produces far lower levels of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.
Immediate results, long term solutions
“This joint initiative marks a significant step forward in QTKR and ONE’s partnership to decarbonise port logistics,” said a statement issued by both companies. “It shows how readily available alternatives can deliver immediate results while longer-term solutions, including electrification, are developed. By targeting emissions in port operations, a critical link in the container supply chain, both companies are demonstrating how practical change at a local level can accelerate progress towards global decarbonisation.”
The initiative forms part of a wider project for operations at the port. “Decarbonisation cannot be achieved in isolation,” said Johan Pijpers, ONE’s Manager for Inland Operations Procurement (Europe & Africa). “It demands collaboration and innovation across the supply chain. Our work with QTKR shows that practical solutions like biofuels can deliver meaningful results today, while laying the foundation for more ambitious steps in the future.”
Combined effort
Taking a pragmatic approach has allowed the partnership to deliver immediate results at minimal additional cost. “At QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam, we are proud to collaborate with Ocean Network Express (ONE) in a partnership that goes beyond logistics,” said Fred Groenendijk, the Chief Commercial Officer for QTKR. “Together, we are taking concrete steps towards reducing CO2 emissions. ONE and QTKR have proven that smart, trustworthy collaboration is essential to successfully reducing CO2 emissions across the supply chain.”
The partners are now preparing for the next phase of their collaboration, which will see the introduction of a dedicated fleet of electric trucks (e-trucks) for port operations. These e-trucks will serve alongside the HVO100 trucks, handling container movements across terminals, further cutting emissions to establish a long-term platform for zero-carbon logistics. QTKR and ONE view the combination of immediate, scalable measures, achieved by switching to biofuels, along with longer-term investments in electrification, as central to the maritime sector’s transition. The partnership also reflects a growing recognition that decarbonisation requires close cooperation between carriers, logistics providers and port operators if industry-wide goals are to be achieved.