Green ports: Bergen aims to be the greenest, smartest port in Europe

With Europe’s largest shore power facility, steadily more digitalised operations and a pioneering environmental reporting tool, the port is helping to promote the green maritime transition.

Time is critical. International shipping must cut CO₂ emissions by 40 per cent from 2008 levels by 2030, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). At the same time, nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide emissions continue to affect air quality worldwide. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that almost the entire global population breathes air exceeding recommended pollution limits.

Even Husby is clear: it will take more than greener vessels.

“We’re on the cusp of a major transformation, with clean energy solutions in every area. Our ports have to be prepared. We have to build infrastructure, provide green incentives and make operations smarter,” he says.

The way ships are operated when they are in port has a major impact on their overall environmental footprint. Ports are in a good position to influence this. The problem is that most ports lack the tools to enforce environmental strategies.

“We receive good technical documentation on the vessels that are arriving, but barely any data on how they are actually operated,” Husby explains.

To address this, Port of Bergen joined forces with DNV and other Norwegian ports to develop the Environmental Port Index (EPI), a reporting tool that scores ships from 0 to 100 based on their emissions while moored. The EPI, which was launched in 2020, gives operators a tangible incentive to reduce pollution, rewarding high-performing ships with lower port fees.

“In the first season alone, we saw that the cruise ships in ports that use EPI had a steady increase in their score. In other words, they gradually reduced the amount of pollution they created. This means that our tool works," says Husby.

The EPI is now used in 46 ports.

In 2018, Port of Bergen collaborated with Eviny to establish the company Plug to manage and develop shore power for cruise ships and other vessels. From its first installations in Bergen, Plug has expanded throughout Norway and Northern Europe, becoming a formidable player in developing, financing, building and operating large-scale shore power systems for cruise ships, ferries and offshore vessels.

“Shore power would have been in a much weaker position if Bergen weren’t a pioneer in implementing all types of environmental technology,” says Maria Boss, Chief Executive Officer of Plug.

With more and more electric and hybrid-electric vessels in operation, electrification of maritime transport is evolving beyond shore connection at berth. Charging systems are now essential infrastructure at Port of Bergen.

Havila Voyages is one of two Norwegian cruise operators that sail the Coastal Route between Bergen and Kirkenes and its four ships run on battery power and LNG. The large battery packs allow the vessel to turn off their generators and use power from shore to run the hotel on board. This wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated supply at Port of Bergen provided by Plug.

“Whenever Havila comes into the port, they are able to plug in,” says Boss.

Port of Bergen’s ambitions extend beyond clean energy. It is relocating the cargo port to Ågotnes, freeing up land in the city centre and utilising autonomous solutions and smart traffic management systems to remove bottlenecks and achieve zero emissions, increasing the competitiveness of maritime transport in the region.

“Port of Bergen is a trendsetter for other Norwegian ports, and we have garnered a good deal of international recognition. In this way we can play a role in promoting the global green transition,” concludes Husby.

Port of Bergen demonstrates how ambitious Norwegian companies are to accelerate the green transition at sea. Explore maritime solutions and take direct contact with the companies.