Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam want stricter
emission standards from 1 January 2016

12 March 2014

Forth Ports-owned London Container Terminal (LCT) has reached agreement with shipping line MSC Geneva and container provider Zeta System to establish the new UK East Coast feeder service including the Port of Rotterdam. Zeta System has recently invested in its own fleet of 45ft containers for this service.

Image by Port of Rotterdam Authority

Antwerp Port Authority and the Port of Rotterdam Authority want to see stricter nitrogen oxides emission standards for new built vessels on the North Sea and English Channel from 1 January 2016. The two largest ports in Europe do not support a proposal to postpone this already agreed upon regulation by five years. At the beginning of April, the environment committee of the International Maritime Organization (an United Nations agency) will discuss this proposal.

Ships’ engines which comply with the new standards emit 80% less nitrogen oxides than the current built vessels. Reducing the emissions from shipping to improve air quality is in line with the sustainability policy of the two port authorities.

Port of Rotterdam Authority press release