Canada and European Ports Advance Collaboration on Energy Transition

Canada and several major European ports have announced further measures to strengthen their collaboration in energy transition. Last week, Canada's Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, Anita Anand, unveiled an investment of up to $17 million for the Halifax Port Authority. Part of this funding will be allocated to the development of a green shipping corridor between Halifax (LOCODE: CAHAL) and Hamburg (LOCODE: DEHAM).

The Halifax-Hamburg green shipping corridor is a key initiative that was formalized in 2022 when both ports signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). With this new funding, Halifax is set to take concrete steps in its green transition. Plans include the establishment of a hydrogen production facility, electrification of port equipment to reduce emissions, and an incentive program aimed at shifting freight traffic from road to rail. Furthermore, the port will prepare bunkering facilities to accommodate vessels powered by alternative fuels.

Fulvio Fracassi, CEO of Halifax Port Authority, highlighted the strategic importance of this investment:

“Transport Canada’s Green Corridor investment will help to competitively position the Port of Halifax for the future. There is growing global interest in decarbonizing shipping, and this funding will support feasibility studies, assessments, the introduction of new equipment, and workforce development here at the port", he said as reported by the Government of Canada.

Along with the green shipping corridor development, two million dollars of the funding will go toward the Ship to Shore Crane infrastructure project. This initiative aims to expand terminal capacity and enhance efficiency in servicing larger vessels at the Port of Halifax, further strengthening the port’s operational capabilities.

On the European side, the North Sea Port has also deepened its ties with five Canadian ports located in the country’s southwest region. These include Montreal (LOCODE: CAMTR), Quebec (LOCODE: CAQUE), Saguenay (LOCODE: CASAG), Sept-Îles (LOCODE: CASEI), and Trois-Rivières (LOCODE: CATRR). This new partnership is expected to improve supply chain connectivity between the Saguenay - St. Lawrence (LOCODE: CASLW) maritime corridor and the North Sea corridor, facilitating smoother trade and energy exchanges.

Maarten den Dekker, Chief Sustainability Officer at North Sea Port, commented on the significance of this cooperation:

“Canada is North Sea Port’s fourth most important trading partner in terms of cargo through put. Our strategic location in Western Europe makes us an ideal partner for these Canadian ports" as reported by the North Sea Port.