The Port of Rotterdam is introducing a new Geofence system to facilitate Just-in-Time arrivals, which will deliver lower waiting times and reduce carbon emissions.
The Geofence system functions by sending terminal planners and shipping agents an email notification as soon as a vessel crosses an imaginary line – the “geofence” – and enters the inland shipping Port-passage Planning Area (PPA) around the Port of Rotterdam.
This geofence is positioned at a distance of 240 nautical miles around the Maascenter buoy in the Port of Rotterdam. When vessels pass this line they receive an Actual Time of Arrival (ATA) in the PPA, which provides greater accuracy in arrival time scheduling and reduces waiting time.
Enhancing the precision of Just-in-Time arrivals is an important tool in a port’s decarbonisation programme, as it allows ships to optimise speed during their voyage to arrive in port when berth, fairway and nautical services are available.
Just-in-Time arrivals will contribute to a ship attaining its required carbon intensity indicator (CII). Together with other operational measures, Just-in-Time sailing can be taken up as part of the enhanced Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), which is central to the implementation of the IMO’s energy efficiency standards.
Research performed by the Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA) in 2022 has shown that container ships using Just-in-Time arrivals can reduce their fuels consumption and the resulting CO2 emissions by 4.23%.
Source: Port of Rotterdam