Splash247: EU green push drives demand for port emissions data

Published by Splash247

Maritime technology firm OceanScore says its PortView emissions platform is now being used by more than 30 ports as authorities seek better data to assess shore power, vessel incentive schemes and other decarbonisation investments.

The system combines vessel activity data with emissions modelling to track pollution from individual ship calls across terminals, anchorages and other port areas. Users can break the results down by vessel, ship type, pollutant and time period, allowing them to identify hotspots and measure changes over time.

Among the latest named users are APRAM, which manages the ports of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago, and APDL, the authority responsible for Leixões, Viana do Castelo and the Douro waterway.

APDL is using the software to support a decarbonisation programme targeting carbon neutrality by 2035, with measures covering electrification, energy efficiency and renewable power.

PortView is intended to give ports a continuous alternative to one-off emissions studies and fragmented datasets. It can be used to assess whether cleaner-vessel discounts are changing traffic patterns, whether shore power investments match vessel demand and which operational areas account for the largest share of emissions.

The rollout comes as the European Commission pushes ports to accelerate digitalisation, electrification and clean-fuel infrastructure under its ports strategy adopted in March. The strategy also calls for investment decisions to be better targeted as ports balance sustainability spending with capacity and competitiveness.

OceanScore also administers the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ Environmental Ship Index, which ports use to reward vessels performing beyond regulatory requirements. Its revised ESI Core methodology is due to take effect in 2027.