The Port of Rotterdam has taken a significant step toward optimizing ship movements with the launch of a modern geofencing system, part of the initial phase of the Just-in-Time (JIT) Sailing project.
This initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance the efficiency of ship traffic management. Since mid-October, terminal planners and shipping agents have been receiving email alerts as soon as a vessel crosses a virtual boundary—known as a geofence—located 240 nautical miles from the Maascenter buoy.
Furthermore, upon crossing this geofence, the vessel is assigned an Actual Time of Arrival (ATA) in the Port-passage Planning Area (PPA), enabling more accurate scheduling and shorter wait times.
In addition, the Just-in-Time Sailing approach offers substantial benefits in reducing both the environmental impact and operational costs of inland shipping. Research from 2022, commissioned by the Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA), found that by implementing JIT arrival procedures for the final 12 hours of a journey, container ships could cut fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 4.23%. This research was part of the IMO and Norway’s GreenVoyage2050 project.
Also, the geofencing system’s rollout is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders in the port, such as terminal operators, shipping agents, and nautical service providers. By strengthening information accuracy, this collaboration supports the port’s goal of more efficient and sustainable operations.
