Originally published on Intermodal
Q: What are the most promising green technologies currently being piloted or implemented in European ports?
A: From our understanding, there isn’t one single solution that stands out across all ports. Instead, we see a range of green technologies being trialled or implemented in parallel. Onshore Power Supply (OPS) is one of the more advanced systems, with ports such as Hamburg installing green energy shore-based power at its container berths and planning to make shore power mandatory for cruise vessels by 2027. Alongside that, there are hydrogen pilots, from Antwerp-Bruges’ Hydrotug 1 to mobile H₂ generators supplying ships at berth in Gothenburg. We also note early ammonia and e-methanol bunkering trials as shipping lines invest in dual-fuel vessels. Forecasts suggest that ports’ electricity demand will grow significantly by 2030 as electrification scales up. Yet no one can guarantee that the additional power demand will be met.
So there isn’t a single technology that dominates today, but rather a mix of solutions that are each moving from pilot to scale-up, depending on each port’s strategy and (national) context.
Q: How are ports measuring and reporting their environmental impact? , What standards are emerging as best practice?
A: To the best of our knowledge, ports are drawing on a mix of sector-specific and global standards. EcoPorts’ PERS and the ESPO Environmental Report are widely used to benchmark environmental performance. For carbon accounting, ISO 14083 is emerging as the backbone for intermodal transport chains, while the GHG Protocol remains the reference for Scopes 1–3. With the EU’s CSRD/ESRS-E1 rules entering force, ports are increasingly aligning their disclosures accordingly.
We wouldn’t claim this is an exhaustive list, but these are the standards we are seeing most often applied in practice. At the same time, there is a lot of discussion and ambiguity amongst ports (especially UK) on if, when and how to report their environmental impact.
Q: How is digitalisation improving efficiency in intermodal port operations?
A: From our perspective, digitalization is the enabler that connects operational efficiency to measurable climate outcomes. Just-in-Time (JIT) Arrivals and collaborative planning are key drivers a theme highlighted repeatedly during London International Shipping Week 2025. Studies suggest that sharing arrival and service data even 24 hours in advance of a vessel call can reduce fuel use and emissions by approximately 4–6% per call. The Port of Rotterdam has been among the first to trial this, achieving tangible results using our Synchronizer to coordinate port calls across ships, terminals, and service providers.
Other examples include Hamburg’s smartPORT platform, which coordinates truck and rail flows to reduce congestion.
But the real breakthrough comes from ports knowing their numbers. That is why we developed EmissionInsider and our Standalone Port Emissions Report to provide a clear, credible view of Scope 1–3 emissions, identify hotspots, and model the impact of different strategies. Synchronizer then delivers the operational changes in real time. Together, they form the loop: insight → action → measurable reduction.
In our view, the biggest and quickest opportunity lies in tackling Scope 3 emissions. These value-chain impacts represent the large majority (>90%) of a port’s footprint, and without full visibility, ports risk optimizing at the margins while missing the material change needed.. Put simply: without Scope 3 transparency, ports will not be able to make the right choices or realistically meet their operational net-zero commitments.
Q: How can we improve collaboration between ports and other stakeholders in the supply chain?
A: In our view, four areas stand out and can help improve collaboration between ports and other stakeholders in the supply chain:
- Shared data standards, for example, DCSA’s JIT event model, to ensure everyone is working off the same operational truth.
- Aligned incentives: for example, green port dues or OPS discounts linked to verified emissions reductions. Or governments aligning port throughput targets with environmental responsibility.
- Neutral governance. Digitalization is the “orchestra conductor” for a port call. Our Synchronizer creates a single, neutral platform where ships, terminals, pilots and service providers all work from the same timeline. This removes silos and resolves conflicts in real time, keeping port calls predictable. To make this stick, ports may also need incentives or requirements, whether it’s a carrot (priority berthing, green discounts) or a stick (mandatory data sharing), so that all actors fully participate in the system.
- Common emissions measurement: Collaboration also depends on a truly level playing field. Today, ports are measuring Scope 1–3 emissions in different ways, which makes comparisons inconsistent. Ultimately, we need an agreed global standard so every port can be assessed on the same terms. That standard may evolve from ISO frameworks (such as ISO 14083 for transport-chain GHGs or ISO 14001 for environmental management) or another agreed methodology.
We are actively improving collaboration between ports and other stakeholders in the supply chain. Below are some case studies we will highlight:
Belfast Harbour is one we often highlight. By partnering with us, it has reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 70% since 2015, while preparing for operational and intermodal upgrades.
In Rotterdam, Synchronizer pilots have shown how collaboration reduces idle time and emissions when carriers, terminals, pilots, and service providers align around a shared timeline.
In Algeciras, our technology cut idle time by nearly 40%, saving an average of 33 tonnes of CO₂ per call. Elsewhere, anchorage emissions fell by 15% in a single year.
Q: What will you discuss at Intermodal Europe?
A: At Intermodal Europe, we’ll be challenging the industry to think differently. Reporting is the start, not the finish line. Ports can publish glossy ESG reports and showcase rooftop solar panels, but if ships are still stacked at anchor and trucks are idling at the gates, we are missing the point.
The reality is that over 90% of a port’s footprint is Scope 3, yet it remains the blind spot. Without transparency on those emissions, ports will never make the right choices or reach operational net zero. That’s why we need a global standard so that every port can be compared on the same terms. But we can’t afford to wait for that to be agreed. We must act now, with the best methodologies available, and refine them as standards evolve.
And action is possible. In Belfast, confronting Scope 3 data catalyzed change across the harbour. In Rotterdam and Algeciras, coordinated port calls have demonstrated that idle time and emissions can be significantly reduced when stakeholders collaborate. The lesson is clear: data must lead to informed decisions and those decisions must lead to tangible reductions.
Our call to the industry is this: stop optimizing at the edges, stop waiting for perfect data and start tackling the emissions inside and outside your gates because efficiency on paper means nothing if it doesn’t deliver fewer tonnes of CO₂ in the air.
Most importantly, we’ll stress that the industry cannot decarbonize in silos. Real progress will only come when ports, shipping lines, hauliers, rail operators, and regulators choose to share data, collaborate, and align. Without that shift, operational net zero is simply impossible.
