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Port of Rotterdam Authority said on Tuesday that it intends to develop the port of Rotterdam into "the heartland of the energy transition" and that by 2050 virtually no greenhouse gases (GHGs) will be emitted at Europe's leading bunker port.

In its annual report for 2016, entitled 'Building a sustainable future. Make it happen', the Dutch port says its mission statement is to "create economic and social value by working together with customers and stakeholders to realise sustainable growth."

On the issue of reducing emissions, the port calls for "an acceleration of the energy transition" and says it aims to play a key role in the process.

"As a society in general and as a ports and industrial complex in particular, we have the complex task of reducing CO2 emissions to virtually zero by 2050. The Port of Rotterdam Authority believes that the pace of this transition should be accelerated in the Netherlands and has the ambition to make the port a frontrunner in the development and large-scale application of current and new technologies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of fossil-fuel consumption on the one hand, and fostering circular processes and the use of renewable energy on the other," the port said.

Commenting on how the Paris climate change agreement has helped to define its objectives for the future, Port of Rotterdam Authority noted: "The agreement calls for accelerated action to sharply reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2. If, against this background, the port wants to continue to thrive in the future, an energy transition is necessary."

LNG

In an overview of its achievements, Port of Rotterdam Authority noted that it has encouraged green shipping through the development of LNG infrastructure, shore power and discounts for green vessels.

The port highlighted the recent construction of the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to ships, and the first LNG bunker delivery to a seagoing vessel, the product tanker Ternsund, which was carried out last year.

The Ternsund was supplied with LNG in a truck-to-ship operation carried out by Shell on 9th August. As a result of the bunkering procedure, the vessel received Rotterdam's first 'LNG bunkering incentive' - a 10 percent discount on port dues.