2024-04-29 13:03:55
As part of the European Efficient Flow project, Sweden and Finland are implementing a new port management model to limit waiting times for cargo ships.
The Baltic Sea is one of the busiest sea areas in the world. More than 2,000 ships sail there permanently, and every year more than 750 million tonnes pass through it, or around 15% of global sea transport.
As part of the European “Efficient Flow” programme, several ports in Sweden and Finland have recently implemented a new system ofreservation of time slotsfor docking and departure of merchant ships.
This model makes it possible to reduce the waiting time for boats and thus limit fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
We visited the port of Gävle, Sweden, one of the country’s largest terminals, to understand how this new system might revolutionize sea transport.
Limit the ship’s waiting times
Traditionally, bulk shipping – which accounts for 60-70% of global shipping – uses a first-in, first-come, first-served model. Other boats are forced to wait their turn before docking.
Efficient flow aims to make sea traffic more efficient by allowing ships to adjust their arrival times in real time during their journey at sea. Digital tools, such as the Port Activity app, have been developed so that boats can share information quickly and transparently.
“All port stakeholders are informed in real time regarding the arrival of a ship”explains Ulf Siwe, manager of the Efficient Flow project. “They don’t need to call, they have the information in an application and can therefore update the timetable”.
The port of Gävle receives around 800 ships per year. Thanks to this new system, Shipping companies can reserve an arrival slot in advance and thus avoid waiting times in the port.
“We reduce fuel consumption by around 10% per vessel, which corresponds to 300 tonnes per year”explains Claes Möller, managing director of the shipping company Tärntank. “This corresponds to 1,000 tonnes of emissions per year per ship”.
Virtual arrivals
Thanks to this new system, ships can conduct “virtual arrivals” in advance.
“[Les arrivées virtuelles] allows you to request a waiting ticket well in advance of arriving at the port”explains Linda Astner, responsible for sustainable development at the port of Gävle.
“Thus, during the entire journey between the mainland and the port of Gävle, you can choose to sail in an environmentally friendly way because you know you will be able to dock in the harbor without waiting. You can thus limit emissions of carbon dioxide and increase efficiency.”she adds.
These virtual arrivals contribute to optimize Gävle’s operations and supply chain. Dockers, trucking companies and freight operators all have access to real-time information.
The total budget for Efficient Flow is around 4.5 million euros, of which 75% comes from the EU’s cohesion policy, and 25% from Sweden and Finland.
In addition to Gävle, around fifteen Finnish ports already manage their maritime flows using this solution.
If it is adopted massively by ports and bulk carriers, this new system might reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions for global maritime transport by 5 to 20%.
Journalist • Vincent Reynier
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