PortCall.Zero project at RSM to get €3 million funding from NWO

A consortium of universities and companies, including a team from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM), has been awarded € 3,032,035 from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) for a five-year project called PortCall.Zero to help save around 150 million tons of emissions every year from ships using cargo ports in the Netherlands. The research will also contribute to preparing the ports for net-zero cargo traffic in the future, and maintaining port revenues that contribute more than 8 per cent of the Netherlands’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The project involves three Dutch universities: TU Delft, Leiden University, and RSM and the Erasmus School of Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam. RSM researchers involved in the project are Prof. Rob Zuidwijk, Dr Ioannis Fragkos, and Prof. Albert Veenstra. There’s room in the budget for recruiting two PhD students and a post-doctoral researcher within Erasmus University Rotterdam. Project lead is Dr Frederik Schulte of the Department of Maritime and Transport Technology at Delft University of Technology.

Funding for the project PortCall.Zero comes from the NWO’s Perspectief 2023-2024 for technological innovations that provide answers to societal challenges with intended national and/or global impact. The project budget includes co-funding from participating companies.

Reducing port emissions

European seaports must achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and a 55 per cent reduction by 2030 as mandated by the European Green Deal. The Port Call for Net Zero project will focus on emissions that come from the three-part ‘port call’ process in international shipping – arrival at the port, berthing and cargo operations, and departure

“To help reduce the port emissions stemming from the port call process, new methods are urgently needed for coordinated decision-making and net-zero strategies. Current methods lack integrated planning, data sharing, and do not sufficiently address uncertainties from shore power and new fuels,” said Prof. Rob Zuidwijk.

Integrated planning for ships at port

The project will develop AI methods to manage these complexities and uncertainties, aiming to decarbonise the port call process. Achieving the goal of net-zero port operations requires smart, coordinated decision-making for the complete process of vessels calling at port, including loading and unloading, maintenance and refuelling, and departure. It involves dozens of parties, so the aim is for the PortCall.Zero researchers to develop artificial intelligence approaches for integrated planning.

RSM researchers will focus on modelling and developing AI methods, optimising and anticipating port calls, while considering opportunities and barriers to decarbonising port calls. They will take into account sustainability measures, such as new onshore power installations and the integration of renewable fuels. These ideas will be demonstrated in the ports of Rotterdam and Moerdijk while their associated economic viability, operations and governance will be evaluated.

More information

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers. www.rsm.nl

For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Erika Harriford-McLaren, communications manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at harriford@rsm.nl.