Bilbao making headway in developing green shipping corridors to decarbonise Europe

One of the main challenges facing the logistics sector is to ensure that supply chains are secure, nimble and efficient, whilst at the same time moving towards the #Decarbonisation of transport to achieve net zero emissions.

In this context, #GreenShippingCorridors are a key part of this strategy. These specific trade routes, where the feasibility of zero emission shipping is catalysed by public and private actions, put ports at the centre of the energy transition in their role as clean energy hubs; ports are connection points between different modes of transport that are moving towards deploying sustainable fuels and renewable forms of energy. Efficient operations also have a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint.

Thanks to its strategic location on the axis of the Atlantic Arc and the commitment of the Port Authority ( BilbaoPort ) and its port community ( UniportBilbao ), the Port of Bilbao currently has routes identified as potential green shipping corridors for the decarbonisation of transport, as recognised in the report ‘Green shipping corridors in and out of Spain: assessing route-based opportunities’ drawn up by the Global Maritime Forum in collaboration with the British Embassy Madrid .

The report highlights the excellent connectivity between the Port of Bilbao and the United Kingdom, emphasising the potential of the short sea shipping routes available from Bilbao.

As part of its strategy to develop more sustainable shipping routes, the Port Authority of Bilbao has also signed various collaboration agreements with other European ports. In this respect, the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the ports of Bilbao, Port of Amsterdam and duisport - Duisburger Hafen AG , together with Energiaren Euskal Erakundea / Ente Vasco de la Energía , Petronor, S.A. , Evos Amsterdam and Zenith Energy Terminals, to explore the development of an end-to-end intra-European corridor for renewable hydrogen connecting Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, is of particular note.

These and other such initiatives have made the Port of Bilbao a reference hub for short sea shipping, accounting for around 30% of trade between Spain and Europe. The port is taking firm steps towards becoming carbon neutral by 2050, thereby contributing to the decarbonisation of transport and industry and to the competitiveness of its hinterland.