Rotterdam and Hamburg discuss issuing identical green shipping regulations
In a revolutionary move to clean up the industry two of Europe’s largest port cities could start issuing identical green shipping regulations so as not to harm economic competition, and they are seeking other European ports to sign up to the new initiative.
Local politicians in Rotterdam and Hamburg have met and are seeking an application to ensure that both port authorities agree on the same climate protection measures.
Other European port cities will be invited to join the initiative with Hamburg set to host a conference on the issue next month.
The move still needs approval from local governments.
Anjes Tjarks, leader of the Green Party in Hamburg, commented: “We want to finally make the ships in our port cleaner, but we must create a level playing field.”
Dirk Kienscherf, who heads the local SPD party in Hamburg who co-sponsored the move with the Green Party, said on Friday: “The common goal is clear: we want to be the engine for a good economic and ecological development of European ports.”
It is about time that governments of main port-cities use their leverage over ports to resolve main concerns for their citizens, such as emissions from ships – and other issues.
— Olaf Merk (@o_merk) August 25, 2019
There’s a fairly significant port just down the road called Antwerp (you may have heard of it) who is also running its own green campaign and improvements.
Why write an article in a European context (I can forgive the UK not getting a mention) without referring to Antwerp and how could two ports discuss something which affects all Europeans without embracing all the major players?