X-Press Feeders Signs MOU For European Green Shipping Corridors

X-Press Feeders, a large independent common carrier with a rich corporate history since 1972, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with six European ports. The ports are Port of Antwerp Bruges (Belgium), Port of Tallinn (Estonia), Port of Helsinki (Finland), Port of HaminaKotka (Finland), Freeport of Riga (Latvia) and Klaipeda Port (Lithuania).

This agreement signifies a joint commitment to accelerate the establishment of green shipping corridors and the broader decarbonization of the marine sector in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, where X-Press Feeders and the participating ports will pool resources and expertise to develop and implement sustainable practices for maritime operations.

Under the MOU the parties will work together to further develop infrastructure for the provision and bunkering of alternative fuels such as green methanol, and encourage the development of supply chains for fuel that are zero or near to zero in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

They will also provide further training programs for port workers and seafarers with regards to the handling of alternative fuels and leverage digital platforms to enhance port call optimization.

The parties will have regular meetings to update and discuss progress on actions for further developing green shipping corridors.

The collaboration between the parties will begin with the establishment of these two shipping routes:

Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX): Rotterdam > Antwerp Bruges > Klaipeda > Riga > Rotterdam

Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX): Rotterdam > Antwerp Bruges > Helsinki > Tallinn > HaminaKotka > Rotterdam

These services are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2024.

This development is significant, as X-Press Feeders explains, as these will be the very first scheduled feeder routes in Europe powered by green methanol, an alternative fuel that produces at least 60% less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional marine fuel.

X-Press Feeders’ green methanol is sourced from fuel supplier OCI Global, and the green methanol is made from green hydrogen and the decomposition of organic matter, such as waste and residues.

OCI’s green methanol is independently certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Association headquartered in Germany.

The ISCC system promotes and verifies the sustainable production of biomass, circular and bio-based materials and renewables.

Francis Goh, X-Press Feeders’ chief operating officer, said: “By working together – X-Press Feeders and the six partner ports – aim to efficiently implement green shipping corridors and lead the maritime industry in sustainability. We chose the Nordic and Baltic states as the first markets to deploy our green methanol powered vessels because we found the ports and our customers in these markets to be very receptive.”

^{Source: X-Press Feeders}