Duisport and the Port of Amsterdam Join Forces

The Port of Amsterdam and duisport will expand their long-standing collaboration. Markus Bangen, CEO of duisport, and Koen Overtoom, CEO of the Port of Amsterdam, have announced that the ports will jointly develop the hydrogen value chain and their hinterland network. To underline their organizations’ commitment to these common goals, both CEOs have signed a letter of intent.

(Duisburg/Amsterdam) The ports of Amsterdam and Duisburg are directly connected via the Rhine and several land routes, serving important functions as logistical hubs for the European hinterland. Both ports have historical significance in establishing and expanding important trade flows between Germany and the Netherlands. The existing partnership, reflected in the joint venture Duisburg/Amsterdam Port Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, is now entering a new phase.

Development of the Value Chain for Green Hydrogen Carriers

Both ports have significant ambitions in the energy sector and aim to take a pioneering role in the transition to sustainable and renewable energy sources. The Port of Amsterdam and duisport will therefore jointly explore the potential of various hydrogen carrier technologies to establish an international supply chain for hydrogen on a commercial scale. The import, storage, and distribution of green hydrogen carriers play a crucial role in the energy transition in the industry and maritime sector. The Port of Amsterdam is part of the H2A consortium, which aims to import one million tons of green hydrogen into the Port of Amsterdam and includes several key players in the hydrogen industry. The H2A project forms a unique platform that can now be connected with duisport to create a seamless value chain for green hydrogen carriers between both ports.

Koen Overtoom, CEO of the Port of Amsterdam: “I am very pleased to announce the partnership between duisport and the Port of Amsterdam. Both ports have recognized the importance of jointly developing new corridors for sustainable energy carriers to decarbonize international supply chains. This partnership strengthens our strategic initiatives aimed at taking a leadership role in facilitating the energy transition and complements our strong collaboration with our proven partners.”

Markus Bangen, CEO of duisport: “By expanding our trusted partnership with the Port of Amsterdam, we are sending an important signal across national borders: Only together can we tackle global challenges such as the energy transition. I look forward to further close cooperation to swiftly advance the development of a Europe-wide hydrogen network and strengthen our role as a central logistics hub for Europe.”

Joint Hinterland Network

In addition to developing the green hydrogen value chain, duisport and the Port of Amsterdam will initiate joint commercial projects to further expand their hinterland networks. Amsterdam and Duisburg are well connected through inland shipping, land, and rail corridors and are centrally located within the extensive European network. In addition to the existing daily inland shipping connections, a rail shuttle between Amsterdam and Duisburg was established in 2019. This shuttle forms an important corridor that directly connects the short-sea shipping and intermodal networks of both ports.

Through active participation in joint commercial projects and the connection of their port community networks, duisport and the Port of Amsterdam aim to achieve their common goal of expanding their hinterland networks, promoting modal shift, and fostering sustainable multimodal transport connections via rail, inland shipping, and short-sea shipping links between the ports and other European destinations.

Photo: © Max Dijksterhuis / Caption (l. to r.): Markus Bangen, CEO of duisport, and Koen Overtoom, CEO of the Port of Amsterdam.