A unanimous and visionary port council recommended the initiation of yet another port expansion, which has been approved by the local municipal council of Vordingborg. The tender business was commenced in autumn 2019 with an expected start of the actual construction work in 2021.
Stage 4 of the port expansion is a land reclamation project that will expand the port area by approx. 200,000 m2. In addition, a quay facility of approx. 150 m will be built. Today Vordingborg Port has approx. 180,000 m2. The new project will result in more than a doubling of the existing land.
Since the costs of establishing Stage 4 are covered through payment for receiving the soil, the port does not have to raise loans.
A recovery project
The project is to contain the area and subsequently fill it up with soil and recycled products from other construction projects. Today, huge amounts of soil and other industrial residual products are generated from the many construction projects around Denmark. By establishing a recovery project in South Zealand, companies in the municipality and in the area will have easier access in terms of getting rid of soil close to their construction projects. Vordingborg Port has an extensive experience within recovery projects, as the port has been a partner in the EU Interreg project DUAL Port. Stage 4 is part of the original master plan and is therefore a natural extension of these experiences. In the recently completed port expansion, a number of recycled products were also used.
Business and maritime hub
The latest port expansion finished in March 2019 which has led to investments from local businesses in port terminals, machines and manpower. In 2013 there were only few employees – now the Port of Vordingborg employs 40 persons. Just a few years ago, there were 3 companies on the port area – now there is 13 different companies within the business of exporting and importing feed, grains, fertilizers and raw materials among others.
With the further port expansion there will be room for more new companies and in the spring 2021 a new gas station will be build on the port that can provide further service.
For more information please contact:
Jan-Jaap Cramer, Port Director in Vordingborg Municipality, Port of Vordingborg
T: +45 24 76 41 93| E: jjcr@vordingborg.dk
The Port of Vordingborg held their grand opening of the sustainable port expansion on June 22nd. The day was celebrated with an open event for the public, clients and official invitees.
It was a special day, when the Port of Vordingborg opened their new port area. The Mayor of Vordingborg, Mikael Smed, Head of Secretariat at North Sea Region Programme, Christian Byrith, chairman of the Danish Ports association, Ole Ingrisch and CEO of DLG, Kristian Hundebøll gave the opening speeches, focusing on the possibilities that the DUAL Ports project and the port expansion give to the local businesses, the city and the region.
De-velopment instead of de-commissioning
The Port of Vordingborg focuses on development as opposed to decommissioning, which is done by many other Danish ports. The visions of sustainable development now manifest themselves in a literal sense with a port that has become much larger in terms of area and has gained more water depth. Water depth and location are two crucial factors that make the port business attractive – both today and in the future with the establishment of a new Storstrøm bridge in the region.
Sustainable port expansion
The Port of Vordingborg has received great recognition both nationally and internationally in the industry. The port expansion is part of the EU Interreg project DUAL Ports, where ports in the North Sea Region work together to develop methods and technologies that will make port operations more sustainable. Visionary and sustainable development is a valuable brand at a time when climate is in focus.
Investing in the port is an investment in the municipality
The Port of Vordingborg is happy and proud to contribute to the visibility of the area and to support both the local and general business development. There is great interest in the port from companies in relation to the opportunities that have arisen based on the port expansion and the port’s geographical location. Also, local associations, networking groups and educational institutions have shown great interest in the port, and there have been plenty of guided tours in the last few months. The interest in investment strengthens both the Port of Vordingborg but also has a spill-over effect elsewhere in the municipality.
During the day guest could take a walk around the port, learn more about the new bridge construction, that is taking place on the southside of the port area, see the port from the seaside on a military vessel, MHV 803. The DUAL Ports project was also represented at the port and talked to many of the visitors who showed interest in the international aspect.
You can see photos from the opening and read the article from a local newspaper, Sjællandske, here.
The event was also covered by Danish regional Tv2Øst – you can see clips from the day here.
In a world where sustainability is increasingly in focus and ships are growing in size and volume, is there a future for smaller, regional ports? A workshop hosted by the North Sea Region funded project DUAL Ports provided some interesting answers.
By Sofie Forfang, nortseablog.eu, Joint Secretariat, North Sea Region Programme
On 10 October, the DUAL Ports project held a workshop in Brussels entitled Innovative green port solutions in small and medium sized ports.
The DUAL Ports project aims to decarbonise regional entrepreneurial ports through a shared eco-innovation programme and runs eight pilots demonstrating green port concepts.
The workshop was organised as a side event at the EU Week of Regions and Cities and brought together key stakeholders in a lively discussion on the greening of smaller ports.
Blue growth – a key driver of European economy
Gesine Meissner, President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and special envoy on Maritime Policy, highlighted the role of regulatory frameworks in driving the greening of European ports.
She recognised the role of EU-funded projects like DUAL ports in helping regional ports meet upcoming sustainability demands. According to Meissner, DUAL Ports is ‘a very good project which can really bring us a step forward by stimulating eco-innovation in ports.’
Felix Leinemann of DG Mare agreed, commending the DUAL Ports project for trailblazing solutions that complement other initiatives across Europe. He underlined the growing economic importance of European blue growth, currently with an estimated turnover of 566 billion €, creating minimum 3.5 million jobs and with many emerging businesses driven by new technology e.g. within circular economy, desalinisation, big data, sensors, and autonomous vessels.
Pilots show positive results
Two DUAL Ports pilots were presented at the workshop:
GREEN OFFICER: Sustainability manager at the German Niedersachsen Ports Matthäus Wuckowski presented the pilot’s sustainability strategy that incorporates eco-innovation as well as other aspects such as growth and customer satisfaction. The strategy is now driving numerous types of innovation, such as the installation of an intelligent LED lighting system where lights are automatically switched on when needed.
SOIL: Development Manager Jan-Jaap Cramer presented how the Danish Port of Vordingborg is using construction and demolition waste, fly ash, and slag to expand the port. This reduces the cost of the expansion, saves costs of depositing the waste, and speeds up the port construction since the materials are readily available in the local area. Also, recycling local waste material reduces the carbon footprint due to avoided transport.
Initial cost-benefit analyses by the Hamburg Institute of International Economics indicate that the money invested into both pilots has been well-spent.
EU frameworks key to greening of regional ports
Much of the discussion revolved around the challenges facing ports can be met and how EU policy and incentive frameworks may help.
Wim Stubbe of the Flemish Port of Oostende, Flanders (the Lead Beneficiary of DUAL Ports) was clear on why EU funding is crucial: ‘Small and medium ports need EU support due to lack of resources and expertise’, he said, explaining that many small ports are run by less than a handful of people.
Sotiris Raptis of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) called for tax exemptions for shoreside power supply. This would put electricity on a more equal footing with bunker oil and other fossil fuels that are currently exempt from energy tax when used for shipping.
However, it can be difficult for smaller ports to attract electricity companies. The company Blue Power Synergy presented a new invention which might solve the issue: A floating, solar-powered device designed to provide power for ships. ‘The EU should provide the platform for realising this kind of invention’, Wim Stubbe suggested.
The strong global trend of supersize sea carriers was also brought up as a core challenge for the smaller ports. ‘What we really need is ships that are smaller, smarter, and lighter. The building of smaller ships should be better incentivised,’ said Jan-Jaap Cramer.
Transnational cooperation bolsters regional ports for the future
Do the trends of supersized vessels and increasing sustainability requirements put the future of regional ports at stake? Not necessarily. Smaller ports are still needed for effective hinterland transport and also have a role to play in the local community, e.g. by catering to off-shore energy facilities. And as DUAL Ports shows, transnational cooperation helps the smaller ports make headway and innovate for sustainability, in a way that is tailored to their needs.
Delegates found that transnational cooperation speeds up positive development in smaller ports due to the knowledge transfer between partners. Also, the DUAL Port pilots form a basis for further initiatives reaching into the future. For example, Niedersachsen Ports’ sustainability strategy has paved the way for a systematic approach to eco-innovative port development and has led the ports to set green targets for 2025, e.g. for the launch of hydrogen utilities.
The pilots also inspire other ports. According to Wim Stubbe, the eco-innovation efforts of the Port of Oostende are already garnering significant attention: ‘We have at least two visits every month from foreign delegations. Even people from India and Taiwan come to learn about our activities.’
The workshop thus revealed that there is both a challenge and an opportunity for smaller ports to diversify, to specialise and even to become a laboratory for innovation in logistics, port management and blue growth.
You can read more about EU funded projects on the North Sea Region blog here.
On October 10, DUAL Ports had organized a workshop in Brussels, during the EU Week of Regions and Cities. 25 participants from the maritime industry, EU policy representatives and partners of DUAL Ports spend the afternoon learning about innovative green port solutions, and had fruitful discussions about how to tackle challenges in greening port business.
Felix Leinemann, Head of Unit Blue Economy Sectors, Aquaculture and Maritime Spatial Planning in DG MARE addressed the opportunities for Blue Growth and informed the interested listeners that blue economy is growing exponentially compared to other sectors. Developments in new technologies and digitalization, underwater robotics and innovative aquaculture creates a great potential for growth. He also stated the importance of ecological management – taking the environment into consideration during this vast development. As he put it – “We cannot make a profit, if we do not keep the sea healthy”.
The growing industry is also one of the main motivations for the existence of DUAL Ports, which has the objective of making small and medium sized (SME) ports more sustainable, but also more competitive. In a growing economy and with large investments in new technologies, SME ports often struggle with limited funds and staff. In order to tackle this, DUAL Ports works to develop methods and test concrete measures that will save both cost and carbon emission, for the benefit of the ports.
The audience was given a short presentation of three DUAL Ports pilots, by representatives of Port of Vordingborg, Denmark and Niedersachsen Ports, Germany. The pilots on sustainable and intelligent ports lighting, sustainable port management and port extension with waste materials demonstrated how these challenges are being tackled by SME ports. The session was followed by a debate between the speakers and the audience about how to improve conditions, to make sustainable ambitions more doable for small ports. Some of the main topics for discussion were the technologies available today and the legislation that needs to follow, and adapt to new methods and framework conditions. Also, the audience addressed questions related to funding – particularly why funding is often earmarked for large ports who already have resources – opposed to small ports, with limited financial and staff resources. The solution is still to come.
The keynote speaker, Gesine Meißner, President of the European Parliament Intergroup Seas, Rivers, Islands was very positive about DUAL Ports and stated that all ports should be made aware of the findings that have come and will continue to come out of the project.
The workshop was organized by the DUAL Ports partnership; hosted by the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI), Niedersachsen Ports and Region
The workshop agenda is available here.
The Port of Vordingborg in Denmark opened up to the public on September 1st, where more than 800 visitors came by the docks and learned much more about the port, the customers and about the sustainable expansion of the quay area.
The Port of Vordingborg invited the public “inside” for an “Open Port”-event on September 1st2018. The many visitors were equipped with a map of the port and were sent on a walk around the port area.
On a marked route, visitors were given the opportunity to get close to the companies that “reside” on the port. At present, 7 companies have settled on the port on the small island Masnedø, in Denmark.
The companies were ready to receive the many guests and told curious citizens more about their production and their reasons for “settling” at the port.
Representatives of the port’s other actors told more about the development projects, and visitors could also come close to the ongoing port expansion, which, with its unique focus on sustainability, attracted great interest.
The port development manager Jan-Jaap Cramer told the many interested more about DUAL Ports and why it is important for the port to think sustainability into the process. The recycling project is going well and the Port of Vordingborg receives very positive reactions from both customers and partners. The port expansion project based on recycling of filling material for the new quayside and a sustainable lighting system has meant that the Port of Vordingborg now finds that both construction companies, customers and other collaborators consider adopting sustainable methods.
There is an important signal value in focusing on sustainability and the DUAL Ports project has helped to visualize the value for both the Port of Vordingborg and the public.
The Port of Vordingborg is working on expanding the port areas significantly, to attract new shipping companies and to create growth possibilities for existing companies in the Port. In August 2017, the second and third phase of the sustainable port expansion was started.
The Port of Vordingborg is pilot leader of the DUAL Ports SOIL project. The aim of the pilot is to expand the port’s areas to make more room for new and existing clients.
The need for more space will be realised in a sustainable way, by reusing soil, incinerated garbage (slag), and other recycled resources, e.g. concrete and asphalt from construction works in the surrounding area to expand.
On the 24th of August, the Mayor of Vordingborg Municipality, Mr. Michael Seiding Larsen took the first official sod for the second and third port expansion, which are expected to be finished in 2019.
“We are very pleased to have started the realisation of the expansion. It has been a complicated process, and there are many factors that must be considered. We have been working for a long time on the regulations, convincing authorities, persuading the local community, and calculating the outcome of the project. The biggest challenges of the realisation of the project have been the human factor and the availability of resources.” says Jan-Jaap Cramer, Development Manager of Port of Vordingborg.
In order to build with sustainable materials, the recycled resources have to be available, but they also have to be of a certain volume, quality and uniformity. Also, regulations on what resources may be used and the quantities of such has been a challenge.
The local community and neighbors of the port have been invited to hear about the project – the Port of Vordingborg has held several Open Days and guided tours, where the port has invited everyone interested to come and see the activities on the port and to hear about the port expansion project based on recycling of materials.
The sustainable port expansion will bring down the carbon footprint significantly and save direct costs of establishing the port. It will also bring down the carbon footprint and save indirect costs for local and regional companies, since transportation is brought down.
The next steps
“Now that the port expansion is in the process of being realized, we are going to focus on the implementation of LED lights, in a transnational cooperation with the Port of Emden and the Port of Zwolle. We look forward to improve the green profile of the port further with sustainable lighting in the near future.” says Jan-Jaap Cramer.
Facts about the Port of Vordingborg:
The Port of Vordingborg is a small entrepreneurial port located on the island of Madsnedø, in the sea between Zealand and Falster in Denmark. The port has two bulk terminals, handling corn, stone and gravel. Two of the biggest clients of the port is DLG, one of Denmark’s largest agricultural companies, and Yara, a Norwegian company producing fertilizer.
The new Storstrøm Bridge south of Vordingborg will be built in the coming years, and the Port of Vordingborg has been chosen as the production port for the consortium, which will enhance the possibilities for growth on the port, and increase job opportunities for the local community.
You can read more about Port of Vordingborg on their website.
Contact details for more information:
Jan-Jaap Cramer, Development Manager, Port of Vordingborg, jjcr@vordingborg.dk
The second phase of the expansion of Port of Vordingborg set sail on thursday, the 24th of August.
The Port of Vordingborg is pilot leader of the SOIL pilot in DUAL Ports. The objective is to expand the port, in four phases, using recycled material, such as contaminated soil and slug to build the extended kay area.
On Thursday the Mayor of Vordingborg, Mr. Michael Seiding Larsen, officially took the first sod of the second phase of the expansion.
The Municipality of Vordingborg has invested 23m € in the development of the port.
We look forward to see the progress and results of the SOIL project. You can read more about the SOIL pilot here, and follow us on social media for the latest updates.
