Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC), a collaborative effort led by the experienced lead partner, Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM), has been awarded the contract to manage project coordination and financial oversight for the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027 initiative, “H2-Derivatives@BalticSeaPorts” (H2Deri@BSP).
Led by Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM), this ambitious project will run from March 2025 to February 2028 and aims to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-based derivatives as cargo and maritime fuels across Baltic Sea ports.
The transition to low- and zero-carbon fuels such as methanol and ammonia is essential for ensuring sustainable shipping and energy supply within the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). However, port authorities, terminal operators, maritime fuel providers, and energy suppliers face considerable knowledge and operational gaps.
H2Deri@BSP tackles these challenges by developing market forecasts, investment models, bunkering technologies, berth mapping, and safety regulations to facilitate the safe and efficient handling of hydrogen derivatives.
As the appointed contractor, HPC will be responsible for:
- Project Coordination: Overseeing project planning, progress monitoring, administration, and support for the steering group.
- Financial Management: Ensuring the transparent and accountable use of public funds through financing, accounting, and reporting.
HPC’s selection underscores its extensive expertise, having coordinated Interreg projects since 1998 while possessing a deep understanding of the maritime industry’s sustainability challenges.
Furthermore, H2Deri@BSP, led by Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM), unites 15 partners from seven Baltic Sea Region countries—including port authorities, energy providers, and terminal operators—alongside 23 associated organisations.
Together, they aim to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen derivatives in ports by developing proofs of concept and a scalable roadmap for green energy transformation. The project’s outcomes will be widely shared to support the transition to sustainable energy across EU regions.
Stefan Breitenbach, Head of the Project Department at Port of Hamburg Marketing, stated: “This project is fundamental for the maritime industry’s next decade, enabling ports to handle sustainable energy carriers and support alternative fuel bunkering. It also strengthens the Port of Hamburg’s integration within the Baltic region. With HPC as an experienced partner, we are confident that the project will deliver on its promises.”
In addition, HPC played a key role in securing EU funding and winning the public tender for project management. Leveraging its extensive expertise and industry network, HPC ensures the project delivers practical solutions for adopting green fuels, contributing to CO₂ reductions and a zero-emission future in maritime transport.
Hartmut Beyer, Head of Co-Funding Management at HPC, commented: “We are proud to support our partners on this journey to advance alternatives to fossil fuels. HPC’s role combines decades of project development and coordination experience with a profound understanding of port operations and sustainability issues.”
