Port of Antwerp-Bruges joins Sweden-Belgium green shipping corridor

The Port of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, and DFDS have welcomed the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to the green shipping corridor, bolstering green ambitions of the project.

By 2030, two DFDS ammonia-fueled roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels are expected to operate on the routes between Sweden and Belgium, and the ports will step up efforts on electrification and ammonia bunkering, potentially making it the world’s first green ammonia shipping corridor for freight vessels.

2,500 kilometers is the distance from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the green shipping corridor between Sweden and Belgium that the four partners want to establish to promote near-zero emission transport.

The corridor potentially connects 11 European countries through sea, land, and rail routes from Norway in Northern Europe to Spain in the South. In this corridor, the ports of Gothenburg, North Sea Port and Antwerp-Bruges work as transportation hubs as well as important origin and destination zones of industrial activity.

Raised ambitions

The aim is to have at least two DFDS ammonia-fueled vessels in operation on the corridor from 2030, a part of DFDS’s ambition to have six low- and near-zero-emission vessels in operation by 2030.

The ammonia-powered vessels will be complemented by electric trucks and rail transport on land and onshore power supply for the vessels.

Therefore, efforts are being intensified by the ports to facilitate electric terminal operations and enable safe ammonia bunkering. Furthermore, the partners are planning to start producing significant amounts of renewable electricity.

The three original partners signed an MoU in 2022 to work together to decarbonize the shipping corridor between Sweden and Belgium and to create a scalable solution.

The addition of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to this coalition strengthens this commitment, according to the partners.

DFDS has applied for funding for a total of four ammonia-fueled vessels and, if the funding is granted, the project including electrification in the ports is expected to reduce 328,000 t CO2e emissions per year corresponding to around 11% of DFDS’s scope 1 GHG emissions compared to 2023.

“Port of Antwerp Bruges fully endorses the efforts of its customers and partners in prioritizing the greening of operations both at sea and on land. DFDS, an important operator with a daily roll-on/roll-off freight service to Gothenburg, will contribute to our ambition towards climate-neutral transport in, to and through the port. As one of the largest bunker hubs worldwide, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is committed to offering climate-neutral marine fuels and embraces DFDS’s innovative approach of utilizing ammonia-powered ro-ro vessels on the corridor,” Luc Arnouts, VP International networks – Port of Antwerp-Bruges, commented.

“The Port of Gothenburg is already in the early stages of developing operating regulations for a safe and efficient handling and bunkering of ammonia propelled vessels. We are also working on establishing an ammonia value chain, with the purpose of being able to facilitate everything needed for ammonia propelled vessels calling and bunkering in the port on a regular basis in 2030 and beyond,” Patrik Benrick, Head of Strategic Development & Innovation – Port of Gothenburg, revealed.

“This is a testament to our ambitions and commitment to play an active role in the green transition. We expect this to be the world’s first green corridor for Ro-Ro cargo vessels running on near-zero emission ammonia fuel. This transition will not be possible without collaboration. We are working together with more than 50 partners to realise this project which will contribute to a more sustainable future for European shipping, and the ports are a key part of this,” Jacob Andersen, Vice President – North Sea, DFDS, said.

“I’m very happy to see our original initiative develop into a wider network and I am committed to build further on our collaborative experience. The Belgian Swedish Green Corridor is an important milestone towards decarbonizing the logistics sector and delivering on European resilience. It goes beyond the typical high-level language and includes concrete pledges on which we as a port together with our clients and stakeholders want to deliver,” Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port, concluded.