Handover Policy Recommendations Plan SPIES to Dutch authorities

Official Handover Policy Recommendations Plan ‘Shore Power in European Shipping’ to Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement 

On August 21, 2025, Deputy Jasper Kuntzelaers from the Province of Limburg and Deputy Stijn Smeulders from the Province of Noord-Brabant presented the Recommendations Plan 'Shore Power in European Shipping' to the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement. The plan has been developed as part of the Interreg North Sea project 'Shore Power in European Shipping' (SPIES) by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The plan includes recommendations to facilitate the use of shore power in Dutch and European inland ports and to reduce the impact of the shipping sector on the environment.

Sustainable sector

By supplying shore power to ships moored at the quay from the shore, instead of using their own engines or generators, CO2 can be reduced. Shore power facilities for coastal and inland shipping make a significant contribution to CO2 reduction. The majority of the berths for ships in the Netherlands are managed by Rijkswaterstaat. To make the sector more sustainable, support from the national government is crucial.

The plan not only contains recommendations for policymakers but also considers the users such as ports and skippers. "With proper installation of shore power infrastructure, it is important to pay attention to concrete bottlenecks in practice. Think of high and low water, the location of the shore power box in relation to the ship, double mooring of vessels, and maneuvering a ship during loading. Important practical elements for safe use of shore power."

Recommendations 

In the plan that was presented on August 21 to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement, 15 recommendations for the rollout of shore power facilities for inland and coastal shipping in the North Sea region have been elaborated. The recommendations, which were developed through a survey of inland shipping entrepreneurs, waterway managers, shore power cabinet makers, hardware suppliers, and governments from five countries, offer a structured approach to improving shore power infrastructure, adjusting regulations, and promoting sustainability in the shipping sector. For instance, the Ministry is also asked to amend the regulations for mooring locations, establish safety standards for shore power cabinets and connection cables, and invest in shore power installations. 

Deputy Jasper Kuntzelaers (Mobility) states: “At this moment, there is still a lack of uniform shore power facilities. This makes it difficult for many parties to contribute to the sustainability of the sector. We ask the national government to take the lead here, so that the forces between ports, energy companies, and governments can be united. Only in this way can we work together towards a sustainable shipping sector.”