Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Commissioner Kadri Simson deliberates on collaboration for making sustainable energy transition a reality in Europe

ANTWERP:

Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, and Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, met recently at the Antwerp Port House. The meeting focused on Port of Antwerp-Bruges' hydrogen ambitions, with hydrogen being an essential link in a sustainable and robust energy system. After the consultations, the Commissioner headed into the port by ship, and stopped at INEOS Inovyn in Lillo, where she saw an electrolysis process in operation, one of the most widely used technologies for producing hydrogen. Earlier today, as part of the same theme, she visited one of Fluxys' work site, whichisbuildingahydrogen-readypipeline.

Further development of infrastructure to receive, capture, if necessary transform and transport renewable energy is high on the agenda for Port of Antwerp-Bruges. After all, ports play an important role in the import, transit, use and export of green energy flows. This is both the case for the growing volumes of North Sea wind energy - and the grids needed to bring it ashore - and the green hydrogen flows connecting Port of Antwerp-Bruges to the other continents. The port platform has long been preparing to receive the first major import flows of hydrogen carriers such as ammonia and methanol by 2026 – to be consumed directlyorconvertedbacktohydrogen.Ontheonehand,this is taking place through concrete projects at the port platform itself, such as the development of a crucial pipeline network and the further extension of suitable receiving terminals. On the other hand, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is committed to international collaborations with major exportingcountries,suchasOmanandNamibia.

Alongside the development of critical infrastructure and engaging in international collaborations, a sound European policy framework is indispensable for making the hydrogen market a reality. Energy transition and energy independence are an absolute priority for the European Commission. The REPowerEU plan is among the things that demonstrate this. This plan emphasises the need to provide import opportunities in addition to localrenewableenergyproduction. One of the instruments that Europe is additionally developing is the 'European Hydrogen Bank': a mechanism that provides financial support to encourage investment in sustainable hydrogenproductionandpurchasetoEuropeanoff-takers.

These initiatives were discussed at length during the talks between CEO Jacques Vandermeiren and European CommissionerKadriSimson.Bothagreedthatthelaunchof theinternationalhydrogenmarketneedsaclearsignalfrom the European Commission. The international pillar of the EuropeanHydrogenBankwillbecrucialinthis.

Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy: “Today’s visit to Port of Antwerp-Bruges has shown me that the transformation to become a major decarbonisation hub is already happening, with multiple projects on renewable hydrogen and carbon-capture, use and storage. The availability of renewable hydrogen is essential in a decarbonised economy and the EU policy for renewable hydrogen has been developing rapidly in the last years. A quick deployment of projects to import, produce, use and transit hydrogen, as witnessed here, will be fundamental for thesuccessoftheEuropeanGreenDeal.”

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges: "The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a major hub for energy supplies today and tomorrow, for our country and the rest of Europe. The necessary energy transition will not come about with isolated initiatives, but is a matter of collaboration. By engaging with European policy-makers like Commissioner Kadri Simson, we are making supply chains more efficient, sustainable, safe and reliable, across borderstoo."

Smart Container fleet expected to grow 6-fold over the next 5 years : Drewry

LONDON: The global telematics enabled container equipment fleet is forecast to grow 6-fold over the next 5 years and account for 30% of global box inventories by 2027, driven by wider adoption across the dry container fleet. This is one of the main conclusions from Drewry’s recently published Container Census & Leasing AnnualReview&Forecast2023/24report.

Smart containers have increased in prominence in recent years, a trend that accelerated following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant supply chain disruption, which highlighted the need for better cargo visibility to cope with longer and more volatile transit times. And the pace of adoption of smart containers is expected to accelerate over the next five years as device costs fall and firstmovercarrierschallengeotherstofollow.

A container becomes “smart” when fitted with a telematics device that provides real-time tracking and monitoring,enablingoperatorstoincreaseturntimeoftheir containers and so improve equipment availability. It also allows beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) to understand the location and status of their cargo so that they can better controltheirsupplychains.

There are a number of factors driving this market growth. Supply chain disruption and port congestion that plagued the pandemic era, provided a wake-up call for improved visibility of cargo flows and container fleet management. And despite weak market conditions, carriers have funds to invest following the recent boom in industry profitability, and see opportunities to improve the efficiency of their operations through the deployment of smart containers.

Drewry estimates that by the end of 2022 around 5.6% of the global container equipment fleet was fitted with smart technology devices following growth of 57% through the year; an acceleration from the 32% gain recorded the previous year. However, take-up varies considerably by equipment type, with penetration already strong in reefer and intermodal containers but much lower in the dry box sector.Alreadyoverhalfofboththemaritimereeferandland based intermodal container fleets are smart-enabled, the former up from a third last year, according to Drewry estimates.

Drewryforecaststhatthenumberofsmartcontainersin the global fleet will accelerate over the next five years, to reach over 10 million units, representing as much as 30% of worldwide box inventories. As technological innovation lowers the cost of devices and enhances their value to both transportoperatorsandBCOs,uptakeisexpectedtohasten.

Smart fleet acceleration will now be driven by strong uptake in the dry container fleet where penetration is currently as little as 0.7%, according to Drewry estimates. Several carriers including Hapag-Lloyd and Japan’s ONE have publicly committed to equipping their entire dry box fleet with smart devices, the former as soon as next year. Drewry believes that these moves will force other leading carriers to follow suit. Shipping line return on investment will come from the potential to optimise their box fleet and cargo operations. Past initiatives to develop the dry smart fleet failed because they relied on BCO demand which was deterred by additional fees and lack of integration into carrierIoTserviceofferings.