Maritime & Port

Our region is renowned for its maritime expertise and excellent port infrastructure. In order to maintain our position at the forefront of the world’s trade and logistics rankings, the community is transforming in two ways: It is digitising its operations and it is adapting its current activities towards sustainable alternatives.

Rotterdam, maritime capital of Europe

The impact of our maritime & port cluster extends far beyond the industry and region borders. For example, it plays a strategic role in strengthening world trade to and from mainland Europe.

71000

Professionals working in the maritime & port industry

8.2 billion

Turnover by maritime & offshore companies in the region

5165

Maritime companies in our region

2600

Students enrolled at the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering at TU Delft, Europe’s highest-ranked faculty of its kind.

  • Maritime / Ship-building

    This cluster is characterised by multinational shipyards such as Damen Shipyards and Royal IHC, which have their headquarters here. Specialist yards such as super yachts builders and a dense network of thousands of suppliers and designers are also located here.

  • Offshore

    The offshore sector has a number of large, leading maritime service providers such as Allseas, Boskalis, Heerema MC and Van Oord that are active in oil & gas and offshore renewables. Also, our region is home to many suppliers and designers such as Gusto MSC.

  • Logistics

    Large terminals such as APM Terminals and Hutchison Ports ECT as well as many logistics service providers are present at the Port of Rotterdam. Well-known shipping companies with hundreds of sea-going vessels include MSC, Stolt Tankers and Antony Veder.

  • Industry

    Within the industry we see large (petro) chemical players Shell and Esso (refining), Huntsman, Vopak, Nouryon and LyondellBasell. The cluster is characterised by many installation and maintenance suppliers.

Our maritime & port industry spans different subsectors

The maritime & port industry in our region spans four complementary sub-industries. The presence of this variety of businesses facilitates collaboration and innovation.

Future-proofing the port industrial complex

The Port of Rotterdam is determined to play a leading role in realising a clean, efficient and transparent port. It is, therefore, consolidating its efforts into digitisation and clean and efficient fuel consumption.

Our maritime & port industry spans different subsectors

The maritime & port industry in our region spans four mutually reinforcing sub-industries. The presence of this variety of businesses facilitates collaboration and innovation.

Future-proofing the port industrial complex

The Port of Rotterdam is determined to play a leading role in realising a clean, efficient and transparent port. It is, therefore, consolidating its efforts into digitisation and clean and efficient fuel consumption.

  • Maritime / Ship-building

    This cluster is characterised by multinational shipyards such as Damen Shipyards and Royal IHC, which have their headquarters here. Specialist yards such as super yachts builders and a dense network of thousands of suppliers and designers are also located here.

  • Offshore

    The offshore sector has a number of large, leading maritime service providers such as Allseas, Boskalis, Heerema MC and Van Oord that are active in oil & gas and offshore renewables. Also, our region is home to many suppliers and designers such as Gusto MSC.

  • Logistics

    Large terminals such as APM Terminals and Hutchison Ports ECT as well as many logistics service providers are present at the Port of Rotterdam. Well-known shipping companies with hundreds of sea-going vessels include MSC, Stolt Tankers and Antony Veder.

  • Industry

    Within the industry we see large (petro) chemical players Shell and Esso (refining), Huntsman, Vopak, Nouryon and LyondellBasell. The cluster is characterised by many installation and maintenance suppliers.

  • Step 1

    Efficiency & Infrastructure

    Existing industry will take all kinds of efficiency measures. For example, residual heat will be used to heat homes, commercial buildings and greenhouses, and CO2 will be captured and stored beneath the North Sea.

  • Step 2

    Towards a new energy system

    Many industrial processes need high temperatures. These are now achieved mainly by using natural gas for heating. For temperatures up to around 300 degrees, industry can switch to electricity. For higher temperatures, hydrogen is a good alternative.

  • Step 3

    New raw materials and fuel

    The replacement of fossil fuels by biomass, recycling and upcycling ‘waste’, and using green hydrogen will be undertaken to achieve carbon neutrality.

Enabling the energy transition

Our maritime and port community is committed to achieving its climate targets. More specifically, the Port of Rotterdam has its aim directed at carbon neutrality in 2050. It has defined three steps towards accomplishing this:

Enabling the energy transition

Our maritime and port community is committed to achieving its climate targets. More specifically, the Port of Rotterdam has its aim directed at carbon neutrality in 2050. It has defined three steps towards accomplishing this:

  • Step 1

    Efficiency & Infrastructure

    Existing industry will take all kinds of efficiency measures. For example, residual heat will be used to heat homes, commercial buildings and greenhouses, and CO2 will be captured and stored beneath the North Sea.

  • Step 2

    Towards a new energy system

    Many industrial processes need high temperatures. These are now achieved mainly by using natural gas for heating. For temperatures up to around 300 degrees, industry can switch to electricity. For higher temperatures, hydrogen is a good alternative.

  • Step 3

    New raw materials and fuel

    The replacement of fossil fuels by biomass, recycling and upcycling ‘waste’, and using green hydrogen will be undertaken to achieve carbon neutrality.

Digitisation

The Netherlands has an excellent digital infrastructure, facilitating the digitisation efforts of our maritime & port community. These are focused on reducing transaction costs and search times during cargo booking, optimising port operations, increasing the reliability of bookings and visualising status updates on cargo and vessels. Central themes for technology development are displayed on the right.

Interlinking logistics service systems

Sensors & predictive maintenance

Internet of Things

Autonomous shipping

 

The Maritime & Port business community in our region

Our region is home to numerous globally operating maritime corporations, thousands of SMEs as well as a busy community of startups. In this dynamic and strongly interwoven community, the entire maritime value chain is represented, from maritime design agencies to shipbuilders and service operators.

Maritime Delta

The partners in Maritime Delta are collaborating to strengthen the regional cluster in terms of innovation and human capital. It is a collaboration between important maritime parties, among which are governmental organisations, businesses, intermediaries and educational institutions.

The Maritime & Port business community in our region

Our region is home to numerous globally operating maritime corporations, thousands of SMEs as well as a busy community of startups. In this dynamic and strongly interwoven community, the entire maritime value chain is represented, from maritime design agencies to shipbuilders and service operators.

Maritime Delta

The partners in Maritime Delta are collaborating to strengthen the regional cluster in terms of innovation and human capital. It is a collaboration between important maritime parties, among which are governmental organisations, businesses, intermediaries and educational institutions.

 
 

Innovation platforms

The various maritime and port focused testing locations in our region provide R&D, validation & demonstration facilities and services for new innovations at all TRL levels. They are organised by multiple public and private partners.

Innovation platforms

The various maritime and port focused testing locations in our region provide R&D, validation & demonstration facilities and services for new innovations at all TRL levels. They are organised by multiple public and private partners.

 

Startup incubators

Our region acknowledges the value of successful innovative startups and has several excellent incubators in place to support these young businesses.

 

Interested in other industries in our region?

  • Horticulture

    Our region is home to the largest high-tech greenhouse area in Europe, known for its highly innovative community with an excellent knowledge infrastructure and efficient logistics.

  • Aerospace

    Our region is home to a unique aerospace cluster, including the complete chain of academic research – knowledge applications – OEM’s – first, second & third tier suppliers and end users.

  • High Tech

    Dominant sectors in the region, such as horticulture, maritime, space and life sciences are increasingly dependent on technology, providing opportunities for suppliers of high-tech solutions.

  • Life Sciences & Health

    We’ve got our pharma hotbed at Leiden Bio Science Park, the entrepreneurial medtech community around Rotterdam’s Erasmus MC, and our Delft high-tech heart beating in between.

  • Cyber Security

    The Hague Security Delta, with ties to our national government, military and intelligence agencies as well as international organisations, provides access to markets, innovation, talent, knowledge and capital.

  • Digital Technology

    Our region is recognized for its innovative capabilities in digital technology and has a strong track record developing world-class technology businesses. The leading sectors in the region are adopting the latest cutting-edge technologies at a fast pace.

  • Sustainable Energy

    The Dutch government has defined ambitious goals related to transitioning towards renewable energy. These ambitions create numerous opportunities for international cleantech businesses.

  • Biobased Industry

    The presence of a large industrial cluster, world-leading logistics, the availability of feedstock, testing facilities and an extensive knowledge base in our region make a perfect mix that acts like a trampoline for biotech companies developing and growing their businesses.

Get in touch!

We are happy to answer your questions or make an appointment.

Loek Becker Hoff

Loek Becker Hoff

Teamlead International Trade