Sweden-Belgium Green Shipping Corridor welcomes new partner and expands green ambitions

Port of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, and DFDS welcome Port of Antwerp-Bruges to the Green Shipping Corridor and bolsters the green ambitions of the project. By 2030, two ammonia-fuelled ro-ro vessels are expected to operate on the routes between Sweden and Belgium, and the ports will step up efforts on electrification and ammonia bunkering, potentially making it the world's first green ammonia shipping corridor for freight vessels. ​

2,500 kilometres. That is the distance from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the Green Shipping Corridor between Sweden and Belgium that Port of Gothenburg, North Sea Port, DFDS and Port of Antwerp-Bruges want to establish to promote near zero emission transport.

The corridor potentially connects 11 European countries through sea, land, and rail routes from Norway in Northern Europe to Spain in the South. In this corridor, the ports of Gothenburg, North Sea Port and Antwerp-Bruges work as transportation hubs as well as important origin and destination zones of industrial activity.

Raised ambitions

The aim is to have at least two DFDS ammonia-fuelled vessels in operation on the Corridor from 2030, a part of DFDS’s ambition to have six low- and near-zero-emission vessels in operation by 2030.

The ammonia-vessels will be complemented by electric trucks and rail transport on land, as well as onshore power supply for the vessels. Therefore, efforts are being intensified by the ports to facilitate electric terminal operations and enable safe ammonia bunkering.

Furthermore, the partners are planning to start producing significant amounts of renewable electricity.

The three original partners signed an MoU in 2022 to work together to decarbonise the shipping corridor between Sweden and Belgium and to create a scalable solution. The addition of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to this coalition strengthens this commitment.

DFDS has applied for funding for a total of four ammonia-fuelled vessels and, if the funding is granted, the project including electrification in the ports is expected to reduce 328,000 t CO2e emissions per year corresponding to around 11% of DFDS’s scope 1 GHG emissions compared to 2023.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Luc Arnouts, VP International networks: “Port of Antwerp Bruges fully endorses the efforts of its customers and partners in prioritizing the greening of operations both at sea and on land. DFDS, an important operator with a daily roll-on/roll-off freight service to Gothenburg, will contribute to our ambition towards climate-neutral transport in, to and through the port. As one of the largest bunker hubs worldwide, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is committed to offering climate-neutral marine fuels and embraces DFDS's innovative approach of utilizing ammonia-powered ro-ro vessels on the corridor.”

Port of Gothenburg, Patrik Benrick, Head of Strategic Development & Innovation: "The Port of Gothenburg is already in the early stages of developing operating regulations for a safe and efficient handling and bunkering of ammonia propelled vessels. We are also working on establishing an ammonia value chain, with the purpose of being able to facilitate everything needed for ammonia propelled vessels calling and bunkering in the port on a regular basis in 2030 and beyond." ​

DFDS, Jacob Andersen, Vice President, North Sea: “This is a testament to our ambitions and commitment to play an active role in the green transition. We expect this to be the world's first green corridor for Ro-Ro cargo vessels running on near-zero emission ammonia fuel. This transition will not be possible without collaboration. We are working together with more than 50 partners to realise this project which will contribute to a more sustainable future for European shipping, and the ports are a key part of this.”

North Sea Port, Daan Schalck, CEO: “I’m very happy to see our original initiative develop into a wider network and I am committed to build further on our collaborative experience. The Belgian Swedish Green Corridor is an important milestone towards decarbonizing the logistics sector and delivering on European resilience. It goes beyond the typical high-level language and includes concrete pledges on which we as a port together with our clients and stakeholders want to deliver.”

For media enquiries, please contact:

Port of Antwerp-Bruges: ​
​Media relations ​
​M +32 492 15 41 39

Haven van Gotenburg ​
​Stefan Strömberg
​Media Relations & PR Manager
​stefan.stromberg@portgot.se ​ ​ ​
​M +46 704 36 01 51

DFDS: ​
​Dennis Kjærsgaard Sørensen
​Global Head of Media Relations ​
​densore@dfds.com
​M +45 4230 3847

North Sea Port: ​
​Johan Bresseleers
​Media relations ​
​johan.bresseleers@northseaport.com
​M +32 478 91 86 75

About Port of Antwerp-Bruges
​With an overall throughput of 271 million tonnes per year, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a critical hub in worldwide trade and industry. The ambition for Port of Antwerp-Bruges is clear - to become the world's first port that reconciles economy, people and climate. As well as growing in a sustainable way, the Port also aims to focus on its unique position as a logistics, maritime and industrial centre and to take the lead in the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy. Together with the port community, customers and other partners, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is actively seeking innovative solutions for a sustainable future. High on the agenda is its responsibility for the environment and the surrounding society.

About Port of Gothenburg
​The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in Scandinavia. Around 25% of Swedish foreign trade and over 50% of all container traffic is handled in the Port of Gothenburg. The port is a full-service port, and offers industry guaranteed, climate-smart access to the whole world. Direct services to key markets ensure highly efficient, sustainable, and reliable transport 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

About DFDS ​
​DFDS operates a transport network in and around Europe with an annual revenue of DKK 28bn and 14,000 full-time employees. We move goods in trailers by ferry, road & rail and offering complementary and related transport and logistics solutions. We also move car and foot passengers on short sea and overnight ferry routes. DFDS was founded in 1866 and is headquartered and listed in Copenhagen.

About North Sea Port
​North Sea Port is fully committed to a climate-neutral port by 2050 through energy transition and the development of sustainable and efficient transport. North Sea Port is the 60 kilometer cross-border port area stretching from Vlissingen on the North Sea in the Netherlands through Terneuzen to Ghent, 32 kilometers inland in Belgium. As a centrally-located hub in Western Europe, the port specialises in multimodal transport (shipping, inland navigation, rail, truck and pipeline) and a wide range of goods. North Sea Port generates €12.7 billion in added value annually, placing it third among the ports in Europe. When it comes to cargo transshipment, it ranks ninth in the list of the biggest European ports with 65.9 million tonnes. The port area is home to 550 companies and creates direct and indirect employment for 106,000 people.