Norwegian provider of hull cleaning technology ECOsubsea said it has been given green light by the Dutch regulatory body Rijkswaterstaat to offer hull cleaning services to vessels at all Dutch Ports including Europe’s biggest port, the Port of Rotterdam.
ECOsubsea also secured similar permissions in Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Southampton.
“Ports want evidence that our system works ,” says ECOsubsea CEO Tor Østervold . “ We can now give it to them. They also want evidence that vessels have active hull biofouling plans, and we are helping operators and ports with the digital implementation of that too ,” he added.
“ At the end of last year we were only in Southampton ,” adds Østervold. “ Now we are in a growing number of ports including Amsterdam and Rotterdam .”
For Østervold a giant port such as Rotterdam, with a strong environmental benchmark, is an important step in the evolution of the company.
The port of Rotterdam’s Breakbulk business manager, Irene Bennett , said: “We recognize that efficient cleaning of ship hulls is better for the water quality in the port and reduces CO2 emissions and fuel costs. ” The advantages of initiatives like ECOsubsea will enhance the sustainability of the entire transport chain. The Port of Rotterdam is therefore happy to promote initiatives that fit in well with our corporate social responsibility goals.”