X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with six prominent European ports: 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 is intended to accelerate the establishment of green shipping corridors and push forwad with the broader decarbonization of the maritime sector in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea. X-Press Feeders and the ports are introducing the first feeder routes in Europe powered by green methanol.
The key initiatives include developing infrastructure for the provision and bunkering of alternative fuels such as green methanol and encouraging the development of supply chains for fuel with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
This collaborative effort will see the establishment of two shipping routes: Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX) and calling at Rotterdam, Antwerp, Klaipeda and Riga; and Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX) from Rotterdam to Helsinki, Tallinn and HaminaKotka.
These routes, scheduled to commence in Q3 2024, will mark a significant milestone in sustainable shipping services in Europe. Notably, these will be the first scheduled feeder routes in Europe powered by green methanol, an alternative fuel that boasts at least 60% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional marine fuel.
