A connected maritime ecosystem: driving decarbonisation through innovation and collaboration in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is not waiting for change in maritime. It is building it. Across the port, companies, innovators and public partners are working side by side to reduce emissions, develop scalable solutions and move the industry forward. Not as pilots in isolation, but as real applications in a connected ecosystem.

From zero-emission dredging to carbon capture and shore power, these are practical steps with measurable impact.

Explore how it’s already happening in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam Shore Power

Enabling vessels to plug into clean energy

Rotterdam Shore Power is enabling vessels to switch off their engines and plug into clean energy at berth. As a joint venture between the Port of Rotterdam and Eneco, the initiative delivers large-scale shore power solutions powered by local wind energy. With connections of up to 20 megawatts, equivalent to the energy use of around 50,000 households, the impact is immediate and substantial.

Since its launch in 2022, multiple clients, including Heerema Marine Contractors, DFDS and Boskalis, have already adopted the system.

This is large-scale decarbonisation in practice, built to support the next generation of offshore and maritime operations.

ZedHub

Accelerating zero-emission dredging through collaboration

ZedHub brings together leading industry players to accelerate zero-emission dredging. By combining the expertise of companies such as Boskalis, Van Oord, Royal IHC and Damen, alongside regional partners, ZedHub is turning ambition into action. Pilot projects are already underway, including hydrogen-powered operations in the Port of Rotterdam, demonstrating that emissionless dredging is no longer theoretical.

What makes this possible is Rotterdam’s tightly connected ecosystem. Partners know where to find each other, collaborate quickly and move from idea to execution without delay.

The result is a clear roadmap towards zero-emission dredging, and an open invitation for others to join.

Value Maritime

Capturing CO₂ at source and turning it into value

Value Maritime is tackling emissions where they are hardest to reduce, at the source. Their technology captures CO₂ directly from exhaust gases, both at sea and on land, using an onboard system often described as a ‘washing machine’ for emissions. The captured CO₂ is then transported to shore, where it can be processed and reused.

The approach goes beyond compliance. It offers a viable business case while achieving emission reductions that outperform conventional clean fuels.

Based in Rotterdam, Value Maritime benefits from a mature infrastructure for CO₂ handling and reuse, making it possible to close the loop between shipping and onshore applications.

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Decarbonisation is no longer a future challenge. It's a business opportunity. Discover 6 practical insights from Rotterdam Shore Power, Value Maritime and ZEDhub, and see how maritime companies are turning sustainability into competitive advantage.