The Port of Rotterdam Authority has teamed up with BigMile to create a digital platform for identifying transportation-related emissions at the port.

To accurately assess transportation sector emissions, the system will integrate data with a TNO calculation model.

It will also provide information on emissions at a business site as well as carbon and other emission levels along the entire transport chain.

Port of Rotterdam noted that the emission platform is helping the Port Authority and business community make choices en route to a carbon-neutral port.

So far, the pilot project is being developed to calculate seagoing and inland vessel movements in Rotterdam. Road and rail transport will be added at a later stage.

"The goal for the coming six months is to include emissions from supply chains en route to and leaving the port of Rotterdam in order to clarify transport emissions from door to door," Europe's largest seaport said, adding that the digital platform and knowledge gained are scheduled to be shared with shipping companies and terminals in the second half of 2022.

"In the first project phase, we are focusing on area emissions in the port of Rotterdam area, from 60 kilometres offshore to the Brienenoordbrug. We are literally ‘charting’ sea-going and inland shipping’s actual emissions based on vessel and vehicle movements," said Wouter Nering Bögel, BigMile project manager.

Nico van Dooren, who is responsible for the Port of Rotterdam Authority's energy transition programme said these analyses will enable the port to use hard data to anticipate concrete improvement opportunities.

"We are better able to assess the impact of measures in advance," he added.

"The aim is to enable companies to manage carbon emission reduction in both the port and the entire supply chain that runs via Rotterdam."