QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam (QTKR) and Ocean Network Express reported that they have reduced emissions by as much as 500 tons of CO₂ in just six months by implementing a scheme to use biofuel to decarbonize port operations, fueling port shunting with HVO100.
HVO100, made from vegetable oils, animal fats, waste oils saturated with hydrogen, can cut lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared with standard diesel and produces far lower levels of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide according to tests.
This joint initiative marks a step forward in QTKR and ONE’s partnership to decarbonize port logistics. By targeting emissions in port operations, a critical link in the container supply chain, the companies aim to demonstrate how practical change at a local level can accelerate progress towards global decarbonization.
“Decarbonisation cannot be achieved in isolation; it demands collaboration and innovation across the supply chain,” said Johan Pijpers, ONE’s Manager for Inland Operations Procurement (Europe & Africa). “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.”
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.
“At QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam, we are proud to collaborate with Ocean Network Express (ONE) in a partnership that goes beyond logistics. Together, we are taking concrete steps towards reducing CO₂ emissions by aligning our strategies, sharing expertise, and driving a sustainable way of working across the transport chain,” said Fred Groenendijk CCO QTKR. “ONE and QTKR have proven that smart, trustworthy collaboration is essential to successfully reducing CO₂ emission across the supply chain”.
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 decarbonization requires close cooperation between carriers, logistics providers and port operators if industry-wide goals are to be achieved.
