Port of Rotterdam Trials Digital Bunker Delivery Notes in Partnership with ZeroNorth and Vitol

Port of Rotterdam Trials Digital Bunker Delivery Notes in Partnership with ZeroNorth and Vitol

(IN BRIEF) ZeroNorth, Vitol, and the Port of Rotterdam have begun a four-week pilot to test ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN) system, aiming to improve efficiency, transparency, and data quality in bunker operations. This trial, which includes several bunker deliveries, positions Rotterdam to potentially become the first European port to digitalize bunkering processes, following Singapore’s lead. Successful implementation could pave the way for wider eBDN adoption across the industry, supporting greater operational transparency and efficiency in fuel transactions.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROTTERDAM, 13-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — ZeroNorth, Vitol, and the Port of Rotterdam have launched a four-week pilot trial, marking the port’s first digital bunker delivery. During this period, Vitol will conduct three to four bunker deliveries using ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN) solution, aiming to assess the efficiency gains, time savings, and improved data quality offered by digital bunkering over traditional paper-based processes.

This trial represents a step toward making Rotterdam the first European port to digitalize bunkering, inspired by Singapore, the world’s first port to mandate eBDN. As major global bunkering hubs, both Singapore and Rotterdam are pivotal in promoting enhanced efficiency and transparency in shipping through the Singapore-Rotterdam Green and Digital Shipping Corridor. Vitol and ZeroNorth have been integral to these advancements in Singapore, where Vitol Bunkers, in collaboration with ZeroNorth, was among the first adopters of eBDN under the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) guidelines.

Upon successful completion, eBDN technology will be fully integrated into the Port of Rotterdam’s systems, setting a new standard for digital bunkering workflows in Europe.

Saskia Mureau, Director of Customer Digital at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, expressed the significance of the project: “This pilot demonstrates how digital bunker delivery notes can save time, boost operational efficiency, and improve data quality. It brings us closer to fully digitalized bunker operations in one of the world’s largest bunker ports.”

Kenneth Juhls, Senior VP at ZeroNorth, emphasized the impact of digitalization on transparency and operational cost reduction in the bunker sector, adding that this trial is a significant move toward industry-wide adoption of eBDN technology.

Ian Butler, Head of Energy Transition at Vitol, highlighted the benefits of digitalization for both customers and the broader bunkering market, citing increased efficiencies and transparency as key advantages.

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SOURCE: Port of Rotterdam