Holland America Line kicked off its 2025 season in Rotterdam with the arrival of the Nieuw Statendam, utilizing the port’s shore power system for the first time. VP Nico Bleichrodt praised the sustainability efforts and partnership with the port. The season will feature voyages to Europe, showcasing Dutch vendors and supporting local businesses.
In 2024, maritime shipping in Rotterdam saw a slight decrease in fuel bunkering compared to the previous year, with a 0.9 percent drop in demand for fuel oil and marine gas oil. However, there was a significant 52 percent increase in LNG demand, along with a surge in bio-methanol bunkering.
Regulators and shipping experts will gather in Rotterdam this November to discuss redesigning shipping containers to prevent invasive pest contamination. The conference, hosted by IPPC, will focus on eliminating spaces where pests could gather during voyages. Participants will explore design changes and treatments to minimize risks, emphasizing ‘Custodial Responsibility’ to prevent pest spread in global trade.
In a pioneering pilot project at the Steinweg Beatrix Terminal in Rotterdam, Cargow ships were connected to moveable battery containers for shore power. The initiative, testing feasibility when standard connections are unavailable due to grid limitations, indicated success. Despite higher costs, the technology will be used in areas without electricity access.
For the second time this year, a cargo vessel in Rotterdam collided with a bridge, causing containers from MSC and Maersk to fall into the River Maas. Officials suspect the captain misjudged the clearance. Five containers were lost, some floating towards another bridge. The incident raises concerns about vessel safety in the area.
Holland America Line’s flagship cruise ship, Rotterdam, is testing 100 percent low carbon intensity biofuel in Norwegian fjords. Carnival Corporation’s series of tests with biofuels on Holland America and AIDA ships is a step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry. The success of these tests is paving the way for more sustainable practices in cruising.
Residents in Rotterdam witnessed a German vessel, the Monika Deymann, getting stuck under the Willemsbrug bridge, losing containers into the Nieuwe Maas. The incident caused damage to the bridge and waterway, prompting a response from local authorities. This is not the first time such accidents have occurred, with previous incidents in 2020 and 2022.
