The Port of Rotterdam has partnered with ZeroNorth and Vitol to complete its first digital bunker delivery, beginning a four-week trial to assess the benefits of electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDN) over their manual equivalents.
During the trial period Vitol will carry out three to four bunker deliveries at the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest bunker hub, using ZeroNorth’s eBDN system. After the trial, the parties plan to fully integrate eBDN into the port’s systems and those of its suppliers, laying the foundation for a fully digitalised workflow.
The Port of Rotterdam is aiming to become the first port in Europe to digitalise bunkering processes, following the example of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), which was the world’s first port to implement and mandate eBDN.
As two of the largest bunkering ports globally, Singapore and Rotterdam will play a crucial role in shaping global efforts to improve sustainability as part of the Singapore-Rotterdam Green and Digital Shipping Corridor.
“This pilot allows us to demonstrate the benefits of electronic bunker delivery notes, including time savings, improved operational efficiency and enhanced data quality,” said Saskia Mureau, Director Customer Digital of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability and brings us one step closer to digitising bunker operations at one of the largest bunker ports in the world.”
