PERS- Environmental Report 2017

Transcription

1 PERS- Environmental Report 2017 Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG for the Branch Cuxhaven Unsere Häfen. Ihre Zukunft.

2 Photos: Andreas Burmann Christian O. Bruch ARSU GmbH Layout: Hille Schulte, visuelle gestaltung 2

3 Foreword Dear Reader, Environmental protection and sustainability are gaining importance in all economic sectors. For Niedersachsen Ports, a responsible corporate alignment is a no-brainer, because we actively live under the hafen + label. hafen+ stands for the sustainable value we generate and keep developing - for an optimal port operation, for the environment, for society, and for our employees. We are convinced that economic success, environmental compatibility and social responsibility do not have to be mutually exclusive, but may benefit from each other. We stand behind a sustainable development of our ports and see this as a chance to make our port fit for the future. In addition to the already successfully certified branch offices Wilhelmshaven and Emden, we are now pursuing the certification of our branches in Cuxhaven and Brake. Within the environmental certification PERS, we are therefore pleased to present you with another Environmental Report, this time for our branch Cuxhaven. The report at hand showcases our already executed and future activities in the areas of energy efficiency, conservation, and HR Management. This year, a particular focus is placed on the construction of our shore power facility - the first one in Niedersachsen. In addition to the reduction of air pollutants, this will also have a positive impact on noise emissions. For the foreseeable future, we are planning to continue to expand our sustainability strategy and to introduce a systematic sustainability management in all of our ports, so that we can keep developing our ports sustainably. We hope you will have a good time reading this report and we are looking forward to your input and suggestions. Holger Banik CEO Hans-Gerd Janssen Branch Manager Cuxhaven Werner Repenning Head of Strategic Corporate Development Dr. Matthäus Wuczkowski Head of Division Sustainability Management 3

4 Table of Contents List of Tables...5 Schedule of Illustrations...5 Schedule of Abbreviations Portrait of the Seaports Cuxhaven and Stade Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG Niedersachsen Ports Seaports of Cuxhaven and Stade Description of the Port Elements and the Port Structure The Environmental Policy of Niedersachsen Ports Organization of the Environmental Management Environmental Protection Measures Climate Protection and Air Pollutants Supporting the Maritime Transport Economy Reduction of Direct Emissions Waste Water Maintenance Compensation and Green Areas Social Work Environment Balancing Job and Family Training and Continuing Education Health Management Diversity Cooperation, Partnerships, Networks Outlook Contact Information Attachment: Selected Best Practice Examples

5 List of tables Table 1: Facts & Figures Seaport of Cuxhaven / Stade Table 2: Port Segments and Cargoes handled...13 Table 3: Environmental goals of Niedersachsen Ports...15 Table 4: Discount on Harbour Dues...18 Schedule of Illustrations Illustration 1: Locations of Niedersachsen Ports...7 Illustration 2: Structure of Niedersachsen Ports...8 Illustration 3: Cargo handling within the Seaport of Cuxhaven Illustration 4: Cargo handling within the Seaport of Stade Illustration 5: Overview over the different port segments in Cuxhaven I Illustration 6: Overview over the different port segments in Cuxhaven II Illustration 7: Overview over the different port segments in Cuxhaven III...12 Illustration 8: Overview over the different port segments in Stade...12 Illustration 9: Organization of the Environmental Management...16 Illustration 10: Lighting is one key source of emission within the port...21 Illustration 11: Development of the MARPOL Ship s Wastes in Cuxhaven Illustration 12: Structured Waste Recycling in the Port of Cuxhaven Illustration 13: Compensation Area Belum Outer Seawall Illustration 14: Usage Extensification Illustration 15: Training at Niedersachsen Ports

6 Schedule of Abbreviations CO₂ ESI ESPO IAPH IMO ISO ISPS LAT LED LNG MARPOL msl NOx OPS PERS SECA SOx tdw WPCI Carbon Dioxide Environmental Ship Index European Sea Ports Organization International Association of Ports and Harbours International Maritime Organization Internationale Organization for Standardization International Ship and Port Facility Security Code lowest astronomical tide Light-emitting diode (light source) Liquefied Natural Gas Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships Mean Sea Level Nitrogen-Oxide(s) Onshore Power Supply Port Environmental Review System Sulphur Emission Control Area Sulphur Oxide(s) tons deadweight all told (total carrying capacity of a commercial vessel) World Ports Climate Initiative 6

7 1 Portrait of the Seaports of Cuxhaven and Stade 1.1 Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG With the administration and operation of 15 port locations (five seaports, seven island supply ports, and three regional ports along the German North Sea shore) with a total area of about 3000 hectares, Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG is the largest operator of public seaport infrastructure in Germany. The company, which was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Oldenburg, employs a staff of roughly 700 people. All told, they manage 27 kilometers of quay wall and a rail network of 75 kilometers of rail track. The annual amount of handled cargo totals some 28 million tons, plus more than 9 million passenger transports. Niedersachsen Ports tasks comprise the planning, development and maintenance of the port facilities and surface areas, and the marketing of the commercial and industrial real estate in the aforementioned ports. Particular focus is put on the establishment of companies here with an affinity to the port, further on transport traffic management, port security and the provision of port services for the port economy. The five large seaports in Brake, Cuxhaven, Emden, Stade, and Wilhelmshaven are managed through dedicated local branch offices. The management of the seven island supply ports is carried out by the Norden Branch. Niedersachsen Ports is the port infrastructure company of the German Federal State of Niedersachsen and is 100% stateowned (see Diagram 1). Flensburg German Bight Wangerooge Spiekeroog Langeoog Baltrum Norderney Cuxhaven Bensersiel Hooksiel Fedderwardersiel Stade Eemshaven Norden/ Norddeich Wilhelmshaven Bremerhaven Nordenham Hamburg Emden Großensiel Groningen Leer Brake Seaport Papenburg Oldenburg Bremen Regional or Island Supply Port Headquaters Illustration 1: Locations of Niedersachsen Ports 7

8 100% State of Niedersachsen Niedersächsiche Hafengesellschaft mbh Limited Partner 100% Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG Shareholder Meeting Shareholder Meeting Management Supervisory Board Illustration 2: Structure of Niedersachsen Ports 1.2 Niedersachsen Ports Seaports of Cuxhaven and Stade This location at the entrance towards the North Sea, situated directly on the sea ship navigable mouth of the River Elbe and right across from the Kiel Canal makes Cuxhaven the ideal starting point for the maritime traffic headed towards the UK, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Area. The quays along the River Elbe boast a water depth of up to 15.4 meters. Here, ocean vessels with up to 240 m in length can be berthed. The satellite office Stade is also part of the Cuxhaven branch and is located immediately on the sea ship navigable waters of the River Elbe, between Hamburg and Cuxhaven. The allround port features eight berths, which can be approached regardless of tidal peak. Ships with a length of up to 260 m and a draft of 13.5 m can dock here. The Port of Cuxhaven stands out for its function as a hub for the transshipment of consolidation and breakbulk cargo, construction materials, motorized vehicles, and components for wind power facilities. The Seaport of Stade on the other hand serves as logistics hub for raw materials and semifinished products, such as basic chemicals, bauxite, aluminum oxide and hydroxide, and construction materials (see Table 1 and diagrams 2 & 3). 8

9 Table 1: Facts & Figures Seaport of Cuxhaven / Stade 2016 Cuxhaven Stade Cargo Handling million metric tons 6.5 million metric tons Top Cargoes RoRo transport, offshore wind power facilities, vehicles Bauxite, aluminum ore, basic chemicals, aluminum oxide and hydroxide Passengers 0.5 million passenger transports - Port area (not counting compensation areas) 366 ha (of which 285 ha are land area and 81 ha are water) 11 ha Expansion area 10 ha 24 ha Rail grid 15.6 km - Length of quay wall that can be used for cargo handling 9.2 km 1.2 km Employees apprentices 3 Cargo handling within the Seaport of Cuxhaven % 7 % 29 % 14 % 38 % 38 % 3 % 26 % 41 % building materials motor vehicles bauxide, aluminium one aluminium oxides and wind power plants bulk and general Cargo chemical commodities hydroxides other goods* other goods* * fish, forest products, iron and steel, other goods * coal, iron and steel, building materials, wind power plants, bulk and general cargo, other goods Illustration 3: Cargo handling within the Seaport of Cuxhaven 2016 Illustration 4: Cargo handling within the Seaport of Stade

10 In addition, Cuxhaven has an ideal hinterland connection with direct access to the Central European interior waterway network via the River Elbe, plus there is the connection to the Federal Freeway Autobahn A27 (Bremen/Hanover) and the Federal Highway B73 (Hamburg). The port also features rail access towards Hamburg/Maschen. The Port of Stade is also directly connected to the North Sea and the Central European interior waterway network. Access to the Autobahn-freeway system is currently underway with the construction of the Autobahn A26. And for the next expansion step, the hookup into the rail grid is in the planning as well. Today, the Port Location Cuxhaven is the second largest fishing port in Germany and a key location for the fish processing industry. And the RoRo traffic has kept developing steadily since the 80 s as well. In particular, the transshipment of automobiles has been expanded continuously. Through the construction and subsequent supply needs of wind farms out at sea, Cuxhaven was able to garner a market segment with good prospects for the future. With its multifaceted port facilities, Cuxhaven is able to satisfy almost any requirement of the maritime economy. The transshipment possibilities along the River Elbe and inside the harbour basins offer the infrastructure of a highly modern allround port. In contrast, and due to decades of experience in the handling of chemicals, the Seaport of Stade has acquired a special competence for dangerous goods. Another focal point is the bulk cargo for Germany s only aluminium smelter. 1.3 Description of the Port Elements and the Port Structure The Port of Cuxhaven consists of the Ferry Terminal, the America Port, the Europa Quay, the Offshore Terminal and the Vorhafen, which is split into the New and Old Fishing Port. The Old Fishing Port is also the location, where the sluice channel connects. In Stade you will find the North and South Ports, as well as the North-West Quay. While the America Port offers transshipment and outfitter quays for general cargo ships and smaller bulk vessels, the Offshore Terminal boasts a portal crane with a lifting capacity of up to 500 metric tons, a 1,600 square meter large heavy load platform, plus a heavy load road interconnecting the terminals. There are two RoRo ramps at the Europa Quay, Berth 1-3, one mobile port crane, plus one Panmax Container bridge with a lifting capacity of up to 68 metric tons. In addition, the Neuer Fischereihafen (New Fishing Port) features cargo handling and outfitter quays for fish trawlers and luggers, as well as various cold storage facilities and processing halls. The South Port in Stade features loading and discharging beams for liquid and liquefied chemical products which are connected to a pipeline network of the DOW plant. The North Port, on the other hand, features a gantry crane with a discharge throughput of up to 1,000 metric tons/h for bauxite, and a loader with a performance between 300 and 600 metric tons/h for aluminum oxide and aluminum hydroxide. Both are connected to the AOS plant via a conveyor belt system. On the Northwest Quay, there are two cranes for cargo handling and a RoRo ramp for motor vehicles, container and project cargo. You can get an overview over the different port segments from the following images. 10

11 Alter Fischereihafen Seaport of Cuxhaven PERS Environmental Report Fährhafen Vorhafen Amerika-Hafen Niedersachsenkai Illustration 5: Overview over the different port segments in Cuxhaven I Europakai LP LP 4 Neuer Fischereihafen Illustration 6: Overview over the different port segments in Cuxhaven II 11

12 Offshore Hafen Illustration 7: Overview over the different port segments in Cuxhaven III Elbe ELBE Nordpier Nordpier LK I LK I Nordhafen Nordwest-Kai Nordwest-Kai Südhafen Südhafen LK III Fahrzeugwaage Illustration 8: Overview over the different port segments in Stade 12

13 The following table provides insight into all the port segments of the Seaports of Cuxhaven and Stade which are the responsibility of Niedersachsen Ports and describes the key cargoes handled. There is no cargo handling on the compensation or port expansion areas (outside of the boundaries of the existing port). Table 2: Port Segments and Cargoes handled Cargoes handled Port Segments Cuxhaven Passengers Mineral oil products Raw spirit General cargo Project cargo Ferry Terminal X X Vorhafen (Offshore Tmnl) X Bulk cargo Fish Frozen goods Motorized vehicles Wind energy facilities Dangerous goods Alter Vorhafen (Old Offshore Tmnl) X X X X X Neuer Fischereihafen X X X X X X Amerikahafen (America Port) X X X Cuxport-Terminal X X X X Offshore-Basis CUX X X X Stade Nordhafen (North Port) X X Südhafen (South Port) X 13

14 2 The Environmental Policy of Niedersachsen Ports With their sustainability strategy, the European Union charts a clear and unmistakable envi-ronmental policy course. There are directives packages and standards, e.g. for increasing the energy efficiency or for the reduction of emissions, which outline a definite scope of action, which must be followed. In order to meet these requirements and to support the global imple-mentation of goals, Niedersachsen Ports has derived their own environmental goals from the EU s four environmental policy focal points below: Climate Protection Nature and Biological Diversity Environment and Health Natural Resources and Wastes The environmental goals and their active implementation occurs within the company s own realm of influence throughout every corporate area. For Niedersachsen Ports sustainability means harmonizing ecological, economic and social interests. During the course of this environmental report, the company s own environmental goals will be discussed in detail. The be-low Policy Statement is meant as a first orientation in this context: POLICY STATEMENT We, Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & CO. KG (NPorts), commit to avoiding damage to the environment and to act in any and all areas of the company with the principle of sustainability in mind. 1. Efficient utilization of our local advantages, such as the great and congestionfree hinterland connection 2. Introduction of environmental controlling to gain information, so that we can continually improve the environmental protection and increase the energy efficiency 3. Dedication to the development of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions in the maritime navigation industry, with a focus on saving resources and energy, and by reducing emissions 4. Avoidance of wastes and practicing conscientious handling of generated wastes, which is governed by our ships waste management plan 5. Informing about and adhering to the latest and most relevant environmental laws and standards and taking steps to achieve such compliance and putting an emphasis on making the protection of nature a key indicator for the operation of the port infrastructure and its development 6. Ensuring a high security standard through Port Offices, which are manned 24/7, and through alarm and emergency plans, in order to minimize the risk of an incident and its potential consequences for the environment, but also to ensure safe port operation; proper maintenance of the port facilities for the same, aforementioned reasons As a port operator, Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG s primary focus is on the management of the port infrastructure, and on the management of planning and development. We actively pursue the expansion and maintenance of the quay facilities and the traffic routes of the seaport through focused investments. In order to minimize the burden on the environment and to improve the quality of the environment, we take the following steps: 7. Publication of an environmental report, in order to transparently document the longterm progress and developments of the ports with the help of designated defined performance indicators, and the continuous updating of this report and the information contained therein 8. Expansion and solidification of the network with cooperating partners, such as JadeWeserPort Realisierungs GmbH & Co. KG and bremenports GmbH & Co. KG 14

15 9. Ensuring the availability of necessary resources to implement this policy In addition, Niedersachsen Ports is committed to the implementation and further development of the environmental strategy, which was developed in collaboration with JadeWeserPort Realisierungs GmbH & Co. KG (JWPR), and which has the below mentioned environmental goals, focusing on emissions reduction and the management of green spaces. Table 3: Environmental goals of Niedersachsen Ports Business area Goal Implementation Operation of the port infrastructure Reduction of CO₂ emissions ESI, prep work for LNG, Onshore Power Supply (OPS), vehicle fleet, IT solutions, energy-efficient retrofitting Planning and Development Planning and operation of new and existing infrastructure facilities, while keeping ecological aspects in mind Avoidance and reduction of traffic routes, efficient utilization of the infrastructure Planning and development Management of green spaces Long-term planning of coherence and compensation measures Cooperation Collaboration with stakeholders of the port economy for environmental protection Consideration of ecological aspects during the cooperation with partners Marketing Environmental protection inside and outside of the company Communicating the environmental protection measures with internal and external stakeholders in the form of environmental reports, brochures, and employee training Finance Environmental controlling Generating in and output balance sheets to obtain information for better environmental protection One of the aspects of the certification is to investigate the ecological effects of the different port areas and to reduce the environmental impact through environmental management and thus obtain a measuring basis for reaching the environmental goals. Here, the identification of substantial environmental aspects is a key step to identify the impact on the environment and to formulate environmental goals and solutions. Of utmost importance at the location Wilhelmshaven are the following environmental aspects, which are included as an integral part of the port s environmental strategy: Emission of Airborne Pollutants Water Emission and Water Quality Waste Management Soil Contamination Effects on Environments and Biotopes Noise Emission 15

16 3 Organization of the Environmental Management At Niedersachsen Ports, the environmentally relevant topics are coordinated by the Staff Department Strategic Corporate Development. Regular exchanges between the Staff Department., the branch managers, and the management ensures the review and initiation of measures for the protection of the environment. The below organizational chart outlines the key organizational structures. Close cooperation on an expert level between the Staff Department and the individual departments ensures the implementation of measures on an operational level. Supervisory Board Management Strategic Corporate Development Technology Sustainability Consultant Branch Manager Real Estate Technology Technical Services Port Office Personal & Administration Illustration 9: Organization of the Environmental Management In order to initiate measures, to review environmental goals and to comply with the statutory stipulations, we have introduced a management system in the spirit of PERS. Responsible for the monitoring and the execution of the checks and verifications is the Staff Department Strategic Corporate Development (Environmental Coordinator), assisted by the expert staff of each relevant area. In the branch, the sustainability activities are monitored by the Sustainability Commissioner. Depending on the complexity of the task, external personnel may be consulted for verification as well, to ensure that current standards are taken into account and to ensure constant improvement. To make sure that the requirements are met, various checks are performed within the company on a regular basis. These different measures for control and improvement are explained in detail hereafter: Monthly The environmental policy, strategy, and planned measures are coordinated in collaboration with the Branch Manager in Cuxhaven and with the Management of Niedersachsen Ports, and their compliance is checked. For this purpose, monthly meetings are held to monitor adherence to the goals and to check the implementation of the planned measures. This improves the quality of the monitoring and the motivation of the staff to actually reach the announced goals. Meetings on Demand Topic relevant expert discussions with the responsible staff are held several times a year and as demand warrants. These work groups are organized by the Staff Dept. Corporate Development. The purpose of these meetings is to check the implemented environmental measures against the benchmark and to initiate new measures. Part of the agenda of these 16

17 regular meetings is also to continuously review the compliance of the measures with laws and regulations. In order to strengthen the sustainable alignment of the company, a new position - Head of Division Sustainability - was created in The Head of Division Sustainability is part of the Staff Department Strategic Corporate Development and pushes at Niedersachsen Ports for a company-wide systematic implementation of a sustainable port development. A company-wide sustainability management systems is currently under development. 4 Environmental Protection Measures The following section deals with the individual environmental protection measures, which have already been implemented in the locations Cuxhaven and Stade, or which are in the implementation or planning stage. 4.1 Climate Protection and Air Pollutants The air emissions within the port are directly caused by different port participants. This includes port operators such as Niedersachsen Ports, maritime businesses (such as ship owners), but also companies within the port. Accordingly, Niedersachsen Ports has no direct influence over emissions created within the port. This includes emissions from ships calling the port which are not owned by the port operator, or emissions from hinterland transports. The Seaports of Cuxhaven and Stade do not just limit their commitment to the reduction of directly attributable emissions, they also provide incentives designed to lower the indirect emissions (emissions caused by the ship owners or port companies). This way, certain measures provide perks to the ship owners to support them in their efforts to reduce ships emissions. The following section describes measures implemented by Niedersachsen Ports to help reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants. For this purpose, we differentiate between measures to support the maritime transport economy, and measures to reduce direct emissions from Niedersachsen Ports Supporting the Maritime Transport Economy When compared to the relevant land modes of transportation, maritime shipping is a transportation mode low in CO₂ - for each ton kilometer, these emissions are lower here. Still, the ships engines do burden the environment nonetheless, because oceangoing ships are mostly operated with fuel oil, which contains significantly more Sulphur oxides and other pollutants (e.g. heavy metals, nitrogen oxides and particles) than fuels that are used on land. Politics pursues the goal to reduce environmental damage through ship traffic, so that greenhouse gases can be minimized and detrimental acidity levels in the soil can be prevented. As of January 1, 2012, the International Maritime Shipping Organization IMO has limited the permissible sulphur contents of bunker fuels to 3.5%. From January 2020, the limit will be reduced to 0.5%. Even more stringent limits were introduced for some areas in particular need of protection, socalled»sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs)«. This includes the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the English Channel, large parts of the North American coast and, since January 1, 2013, the Caribbean. More areas will likely follow. Within these areas, the applicable maximum Sulphur contents since January 1, 2015 is 0.1%. From 2021 on, limitations on nitrogen oxide are scheduled. 17

18 Environmental Ship Index (ESI) Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) In order to improve the ecological balance sheet of maritime shipping, new initiatives for the protection of the climate and the preservation of cleanliness of the oceans are in demand, because the pollution from burning heavy oils is still much too high. Niedersachsen Ports is a member of the World Port Climate Initiative (WPCI) and offers an ESI discount for ships with particularly low emissions since January 1, Upon the ship s application, the ESI Certificate may be issued by the World Port Climate Initiative (WPCI). The index informs about the environmental performance of ships in terms of air polluting emissions (NOx, SOx, and CO2). Ports and other nautical service providers world-wide can refer to the index as a basis for granting vessels discounts on harbour dues, thereby promoting sustainability in maritime shipping. The goal is to reward the ship owners efforts to deploy particularly environmentally friendly technologies and clean fuels. The index serves to grant discounts on harbour dues. The ESI determines, which ships show better emission values than required by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) for statutory limits for nitrogen oxides and Sulphur oxides. The level of the rating (ESI points) is then assigned by the determined values (compare Table 4). In 2016, the Branch Cuxhaven rewarded 20 ships calls with discounts pursuant to the ESI. The average ESI score was 56 Points. From 2018 on, there will also be a reduction on harbour dues for ships propelled by LNG, methanol and ethanol. Table 4: Discount on Harbour Dues Given the background of making maritime navigation more environmentally friendly, LNG plays an important role, since through the use of LNG, compared to Diesel, the exhaust output of nitrogen oxide can be reduced by almost 90% and the carbon dioxide output by up to 20%. Sulphur dioxide and fine particle emissions are almost a non-issue, the wear-and-tear on the engines is also lower, which lowers the operating costs. Niedersachsen Ports is very interested in the development of an LNG infrastructure and supports the settlement of LNG bunker stations within the ports. Given sufficient demand, Niedersachsen Ports will set aside appropriate surface areas and support and advise potential investors in navigating the necessary steps for the approval process for LNG infrastructures. Early on, we created the port regulatory prerequisites for the operation and the bunkering/refueling of LNG-powered ships in our ports. As early as 2015, our Ports of Cuxhaven and Emden were the home ports for LNG-powered passenger ferries of ship owners AG Ems and Cassen Eils. In only a short amount of time - in collaboration with the Port Authority, the ship owners and operators, fire departments, and other involved entities - we created all neces-sary prerequisites so that the ships MS Helgoland in Cuxhaven and MS Ostfriesland in Emden could go on route in their liner rotation. The bunkering of these LNG vessel is currently still carried out with the help of tanker trucks. But this is only an interim solution. We are anticipating for the not too distant future that an LNG infrastructure will be constructed in our ports. And the conditions for this to happen are rapidly improving, since additional LNG ships are being built. This increases the chances for a profitable operation of an LNG infrastructure. ESI Score Harbour Dues Reduction ,5% 30,1-50 5% 50 and more 10% Niedersachsen Ports is a partner in the innovations network for the promotion of (LN-) gas-powered navigation»lng-initiative Nordwest«, which is coordinated by MARIKO GmbH from Leer.»LNG-Initiative Nordwest«pursues the goal to support maritime companies in their transition to gas-propelled navi- 18

19 gation. To achieve that goal, the partners and experts of the initiative will digest and concentrate the vast know-how at hand and further develop it. Niedersachsen Ports is also member of the national LNG Initiative»Maritime LNG Plattform«with offices in Hamburg and Berlin. This collaboration aims to promote the use of LNG in maritime traffic and focuses on promoting the portside construction of the needed infrastructure in German ports. Onshore Power Supply - OPS Feeding onshore power into the board grid can eliminate the emission of air pollutants and noise, and the output of carbon dioxide can be reduced. On the quay and on board, electrical connectors and transformers must be installed, which will provide power with the voltages and frequencies required throughout the ship s grid. On a small scale, the supply of shore power is already available in the Port of Cuxhaven. And in this context, the word small refers to the realistic available output of shore power at this point in time. This power supply is chiefly used by small fishing vessels/fishing cutters inside the New Fishing Port, where a number of electrical connectors are available. Also, in the area»steubenhöft«- on a small scale - there are currently possibilities for the sup-ply of power to smaller fishery vehicles. The supply of large ships could be realized with a planning lead time of about 2 to 3 years and a proven business demand warranting such supply. A large supply unit for a shore power supply connector at Berth 9.4 is currently being constructed and put in place. Starting in early 2018 this berth will accommodate a specialty vessel, which will take aboard the nacelles manufactured by the SIEMENS plant. In light of the backdrop of implementing the project of shore power for Berth 9.4 it should also be noted that such shore power supply, no matter which berth it is being installed at, will not be an easy undertaking in the beginning, simply because of the lack of standards and uniformity of ship-to-shore/shore-to-ship power connectors. During upcoming larger maintenance and/or restauration projects, the Cuxhaven Branch will review on an individual basis, whether, and to what extent, the supply with shore power makes sense and can be implemented in an economically feasible manner at that point in time. In the long run or in the not too distant future, the two quay facilities»seebäderbrücke«and»steubenhöft«are in our opinion generally predisposed, if certain conditions are met, to be equipped with shore power supply connectors for the power supply of large seagoing vessels. However, one key condition is an adequate demand from the maritime shipping industry, and that the operation of such facility would be economically feasible. Regional electrical utility companies should also be involved in the area»seebäderbrücke«, since the existing supply lines below the seawall and the transformer capacities in this area are not currently designed for such an additional supply unit. 19

20 4.1.2 Reduction of Direct Emissions In order to reduce the greenhouse gases and air pollutants directly caused by Niedersachsen Ports, there are two basic strategies available. For one thing, this means an improvement in energy efficiency and on the other hand, promoting renewable energies within the port. In Cuxhaven, we pursue measures in both areas. Particularly in the server area with its high demand for energy, it was possible to apply virtualization technologies, which led to a reduction in the amount and extensiveness of hardware items needed, and thus to a significantly reduced energy consumption. Only few, centralized multi-functional print and copy system are in use, which are typically housed in their own rooms. This is energy-efficient and also avoids dust emissions at the workplace. Energy Efficiency Measures the most environmentally friendly energy is one, which is not being consumed. This is the reason why we are doing anything in our power to continuously reduce the energy consumption within the port. In order to optimize energy efficiency, we are putting our cards on multiple different measures. Capturing Energy Consumptions - The Energy Monitoring System Within the realm of the performed energy audits pursuant to DIN EN at Niedersachsen Ports, the flows of energy within the port were systematically captured. In doing so, we were able to identify the utilized energy sources on the one hand and the energy consumers (facility, buildings, systems, etc.) on the other. It was our goal to describe energy flows and to identify energy efficiency potentials and turn them into concrete measures. For the future we are also expecting an overall smaller volume of printed matter, since more and more correspondence will be routed electronically due to digitization. Niedersachsen Ports will keep pursuing and exploring the possibilities of digital dispatch and digital archiving. Mobility Generally, Niedersachsen Ports operates the company s fleet vehicles as pool vehicles. The vehicles are available to any employee and may be reserved online. This helps to reach a better capacity utilization of the individual vehicle. Most of the company s fleet vehicles come also equipped with an automatic start/ stop feature, which helps use less fuel. Following a newly issued corporate, company-wide directive for the protection of the climate, the company s fleet of vehicles is step-by-step converted to environmentally friendly vehicles, such as natural gas (CNG)-powered passenger cars and electric cars. Building on this analysis, we at Niedersachsen Ports are currently working on an energy monitoring system that makes the energy flows apparent and assists in capturing them throughout the year. It is primarily designed to aid in the energy controlling and management to uncover and amplify energy savings potentials. Green IT Our IT has a particular emphasis on sustainability. When purchasing devices for any IT components, energy efficiency and the compliance with high environmental standards are of great importance. In the Cuxhaven Branch, we are currently evaluating the purchase of alternative business vehicles. In particular, we are planning the deployment of evehicles, which will make our innercity trips emission-free. Port Lighting It is our intent to gradually convert the lighting of the port facilities to LED technology. On the one hand, LED technology features a much longer life span than the conventional sodium highpressure lamps, on the other hand, the LED lamps use less energy, which means that applying some simple measures will result in a radical reduction in electric power consumption. For Niedersachsen Ports, another argument for 20

21 means, they were now over 40 years old. The type and technical layout of this system, which in its time was state-of-the-art but now technically outdated, resulted in a sub-par degree of efficiency and thus contributed negatively to the energy balance. The new system features the latest technology, a much higher efficiency and uses less power. Today, the energy consumption is up to one third less than before. In the future we will also be taking a critical look at the heating systems, which in part have already undergone an energy-technical upgrade, for additional optimization potentials. Renewable Energies Promoting renewable energies keeps gaining more and more importance at Niedersachsen Ports in an effort to sustainably reduce the CO2 output from electric power consumption. Illustration 10: Lighting is one key source of emission within the port the use of LEDs was the great recycling ratio of the lamps, which can do without harmful substances like mercury or lead, which makes them easy to dispose of. In addition to the port lighting, workshops and administrative building will be converted to LED technology as well. For the branch-transcending collaboration on future-proof and sustainable port lighting, we created in 2016 a company-wide corresponding group of experts. This group is made up of lighting experts from all NPorts ports and meets in regular intervals. System Optimization The Branch Cuxhaven runs facilities and systems of all kinds in the port area. This includes for instance heating and cooling systems, which are also part of the energy efficiency analysis. There are currently multiple approaches towards renewable energies in Cuxhaven. For the future, we are determined to use Eco-Power for our electricity needs so that we can make a contribution to reaching climate-political goals. Eco-Power sustainably raises the level of renewable energies of the overall energy consumption and reduces the consumption of fossil fuels, which are finite. This also helps reduce the amount of expensive energy imports, such as crude oil. In addition, the Cuxhaven Branch is determined to rely more heavily on solar power, putting all of those roof areas within the port to good use. Within the next few years, the new construction of work shop is planned for Cuxhaven. The planning will review photo-voltaic systems and the geo-thermal applications from the start. This will contribute to the supply of our own real estate within the port with eco-friendly energy. In 2015, Niedersachsen Ports replaced the engine house and the cooling system in the Cold Storage III and put them into service. The basic components of the old cooling system were from Key technical components of the system date back to 1973, which 21

22 4.2 Waste The origin of waste within the Port of Cuxhaven can be found in activities for the maintenance and management of the port on the one hand, the other portion consists of ships wastes. For both kinds of waste we have developed strategies, which ensure a disposal, which is as envi-ronmentally friendly as possible Disposal of ship s wastes Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG is trying to keep any potential impact from ships waste on the environment to an absolute minimum. The Seaport of Cuxhaven is also following the waste legislation trifecta: avoidance before recycling and recycling before disposal. For that purpose, Niedersachsen Ports recorded the measures for the disposal of ships wastes in a ships waste management plan. Incoming ships are, subject to Niedersachsen Ports General Terms of Use, required to pay a waste disposal Annex I (oil) in cubic metres Annex V (house waste) in tonnes 2016 Illustration 11: Development of the MARPOL Ship s Wastes in Cuxhaven lumpsum. Only when they actually dispose of their waste via the Port Receptacle Facilities do they receive a refund of their waste disposal lumpsum at a rate of 70%. This is Niedersachsen Ports way of giving an incentive to the ships, not to just dump the ship s waste on the open ocean, but to hand it over to a certified and professional company at the port. Illustration 12: Structured Waste Recycling in the Port of Cuxhaven 22

23 The removal must be reported at port and happens under supervision of the authorities. The disposal and recycling companies located in and around Cuxhaven have the appropriate capacities to properly treat and dispose of the ships waste. Ships wastes pursuant to MARPOL Annex I (oil), are typically received shoreside by a tank truck or seaside by a barge and disposed of in an orderly fashion. Ships wastes pursuant to MARPOL Annex V (e.g. household trash) are typically picked up from the ship through a container service. The ship s waste management plan is strictly monitored and is redrafted every two years. Through an optimal implementation of the ship s waste management plans, we were able to report a positive development of the ship s wastes accepted in Cuxhaven over the past years, our contribution to the protection of the seas. Proper disposal of our own waste The waste generated by operational processes is mostly recycled. At the Cuxhaven location, the employees can choose from various waste collection stations. In order to support our staff in properly separating the waste, we have created a Waste Roadmap for the Port of Cuxhaven. The waste is separated into the following categories: Landfill waste Scrap wood Mixed metals / metal scrap Cable scrap Electric appliances and devices Paper Supplies and substances containing oil Used oil Old batteries Hazardous waste Grüner Punkt (The Green Dot ) Construction waste 4.3 Water Maintenance As a port infrastructure company, Niedersachsen Ports is responsible for the maintenance of the waters located in their physical area of competence and for the creation of reliable conditions. At the location Cuxhaven this area of responsibility also covers the harbour basins, which are owned by Niedersachsen Ports. Niedersachsen Ports interest in maintenance is not merely commercial gain, but also a safe working environment. The upkeep of the water areas within the Port of Cuxhaven and in the area of the berths along the Elbe River is Niedersachsen Ports Cuxhaven s responsibility. The upkeep of the waters in the Elbe River itself is the responsibility of the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt (Waterways and Shipping Office). For the verification of sufficient shipping channel depths, Niedersachsen Ports conducts sonar measurements on a regular basis. To carry out necessary work as gently as possible, the location Cuxhaven primarily uses the so-called water injection process. During it, water is injected into the bed of the body of water, where it can penetrate cavities within the sediment and loosen sediment particles. The particles then mix with the water and a suspension layer forms on top of the bed of the waterway and are subsequently carried away by the natural currents of the Elbe River. In comparison to the dredging with hopper dredgers (extraction dredging), this represents a more cost-efficient and also a gentler process. Through continuous monitoring and diligent planning, intrusions can be limited to an absolutely necessary minimum. This prevents the environment from unnecessary damage and unnecessary costs can be spared. And even the purchasing is encouraged to purchase as little waste (i.e. packaging) as possible. For instance, we are returning empty receptacles or containers to our suppliers. 23

24 4.4 Compensation and Green Areas What is taken from the environment when port facilities are built, must be given back to it at a different location. For the functional compensation of intrusions into nature, Niedersachsen Ports creates so-called compensation areas to compensate for changes in other areas, which creates substitute areas of similar quality. The Cuxhaven Branch owns large compensation areas in the area of the Belum Outer Sea-wall to compensate for various implemented construction projects (see image 9). Smaller compensatory measures were realize in other parts of the port. The compensation areas of the Port of Cuxhaven tally some hectares, all told, compared to an overall port area of 499 hectares. In the Seaport of Stade, the numbers are 20.3 hectares compared to an overall port area of 31.7 hectares. Some choice measures and compensation areas will be introduced below. Compensation Area Belum Outer Seawall In 2012 the Europa Quay Cuxhaven was extended by Berth 4. In order to compensate for this disturbance of nature, Niedersachsen Port purchased a total green belt area at the Belum Outer Seawall. This area serves as a compensatory area pool for several large projects in this region and is expected to result in a large area upgrade and improvement of the area of the outer seawall. The following will showcase some choice measures, which were designed to help recreate destroyed functions and values of the balance of nature and the landscape in a way that resembles the old status very closely: Agricultural Usage Extensification y reducing the agricultural usage intensity on green areas within the marsh, their value for the natural balance and the landscape was raised. This also created the basis for the development of higher grade biotopes, such as mesophilic marsh green belts exposed to salt, or green wet or waterlogged biotopes of various kinds. Beyond that, the measure increases the importance of these areas as a habitat for nesting birds and migrating birds. Illustration 13: Compensation Area Belum Outer Seawall 24

25 Ditch Widening and Regrading Within the summer dyke polder, ditches were single-sidedly or double-sidedly widened, and the profile of the banks was regraded. While the regrading of the banks to a shallower angle, to a pitch of about 1:3 and accordingly drawn into the areas, the widening of the ditches involved the installation of intermediate berms with shallow water troughs into the banks. As a result, a longer water retention can be achieved and this may also lead to water areas that exist yearround. On the other hand, regrading and flooding results in wet areas and tide water areas that are important not only for wetland vegetation, such as grazing marsh grass, but also for a better wet probing ground, which is important for nesting and migrating birds. Installation of Tidal Creek Capillaries exist in this lower lying area were also extended or dredged, in order to expand the waterlogging of the green belt complex and to promote the wetland species with the goal of stabilizing the marsh meadow vegetation. An efficiency check of the compensational measure, which was conducted in 2015 by the company ARSU GmbH, shows that the majority of the scheduled measures has already been successfully implemented. The creation of water-logged areas, an improved probing ground for birds, tidal water zones, structural diversity, and the creation of wetlands are already dis-cernable. The water marks on the existing land reclamation fences show evidence of an in-creased water level and tidal flow. A higher than normal number of goose dropping shows that the areas are frequented on a regular basis for foraging and resting by birds. North of the summer polder, a long-stretched widening was installed in an existing ground depression that is connected to the old tidal creek. This results in a permanent water retention. The smaller ditches that Illustration 14: Usage Extensification 25

26 Compensation Areas Hemmoor In the Hemmoor area, compensation areas were created to make up for the extension of the Europa Quay. The 30-hectare-area of the measure is located about 33 km south-east of the construction-impacted area is part of the same natural space. The goal of these compensation areas is the creation of water areas in the form of groundwater ponds and the prevention of area drainage, the development of cat tail areas and wetland meadows, as well as the creation of green belts that are not intensively used for farming of grazing and the preservation of the green belt usage. Regular upkeep and maintenance measures conducted by Niedersachsen Ports as well as structural improvement measures ensure that the attractive habitat will be preserved and further developed. 26

27 5 Social Work Environment 5.1 Balancing Job and Family It is Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG s declared goal to actively support their employees in their quest to balance their job with family responsibilities and needs in an ideal way. Our staff is represented by all professional age groups: young professionals, starting their career, tried-and-true professionals, and colleagues already at the end of their career. It comes naturally for us to offer them a work/life balance, i.e. the reconciliation of work and family life. However, this cannot be administered in a cookiecutter fashion, since the individual needs of our male and female employees are very different. place in-house. Thus, the employees qualifications and fields of deployment are continuously increased. It also helps to discover and promote the potential for development. Furthermore, Niedersachsen Ports offers students the opportunity to gain insight into our daily activities through internships, where they can also complete their Bachelors or Masters Dis-sertation within the company and where they can make contacts and develop practically relevant references through the thesis. The importance of the community of employees goes without saying for Niedersachsen Ports. We want to meet the needs of parents with infants as much as the needs of a large family or of those with relatives or a grandchild in need of care. Therefore, we are working out with each individual a customized concept, tailored to their personal circumstances. Possibilities range from a step-by-step reintroduction into the job after a maternal (or paternal) break, to flexible working hours, and to part-time schemes, tailored to the individual needs. Men are also increasingly taking advantage of these opportunities. In order to meet the needs resulting from changes in the personal circumstances of each individual, we stay in constant communication with our employees, because we want to keep developing and optimizing the work/life balance. Companywide, Niedersachsen Ports currently trains 55 young people in 9 different professions. Apprenticeships do not merely serve the purpose of covering our own needs for trained professional, but it serves the society at large, even when Niedersachsen Ports is training individuals beyond their own staffing needs, in order to offer graduating student a qualified start into their careers close to home. The numbers of offered apprenticeships, internship openings and of recognized occupations requiring formal training are planned to be further increased. 5.2 Training and Continuing Education Support with regard to the education and training of employees is particularly important to the company. Professional development is promoted through continuing education of the staff through specialized and personal development courses. The continued education of the employees is tailored to the individual needs of the areas of deployment and usually takes Illustration 15: Training at Niedersachsen Ports 27

28 5.3 Health Management 5.4 Diversity In 2015 the Corporate Health Management was introduced companywide, and with the support of the health insurance Schwenninger Krankenkasse, both male and female employees are supported in their effort to remain healthy and to lead a healthy life. Through the supra-regional Arbeitskreis Gesundheit (Work Group»Health«), we are providing offers to promote health-conscious behavior of our employees. We are trying to keep the individual needs of various corporate groups of professionals in mind, in order to create customized concepts and to offer a broad palette of health benefits. The corporate health management is a joint effort partner project between us and the companies of JadeWeserPort. It promotes the inter-corporational collaboration between two stateowned companies with similar focal tasks, and it supports the efficiency of the offered health measures. The Diversity Management is designed to enable Niedersachsen Ports to take advantage of human resource potentials in diversity, be it ethnical, gender, age, handicap, sexual orientation, religious or lifestyle in nature. It creates conscientiousness and an understanding for living in diversity and with equal opportunity. At Niedersachsen Ports there are 52 severely handicapped individuals employed, the severely handicapped quota was 7.8% in For male and female employees coming to us with health related limitations or those, who suffer from limiting health events during their time of employment with us, we find individualized solution for the adaptation of the individual work place. For those with limited walking abilities, for example, we installed an elevator system. As our next challenge, we will tackle the topic of gender equality. In underrepresented areas and levels we are striving for an increase in female employees. The focus of these measures is targeted upon commercial areas and on management positions alike. The measures are supported by a family-friendly HR policy. 28

29 6 Cooperation, Partnerships, Networks In order to be a successful port, a strong partner and good relationships on site and around the globe are necessary. Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG represents the branch in Emden regionally, nationally and internationally. Energy efficiency measures are already being implemented in cooperation with other part-ners. In the context of a pilot project by Metropolregion Nordwest together with the ports management company bremenports, areas in the ports are being determined for the application of LED and LEP lighting. LEP (light emitting plasma) is an innovative and promising light technology; its potential for use at ports in Lower Saxony is being determined in this project. In addition, Niedersachsen Ports is a member of the World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI), the German Port Technology Association (HTG), the German PI- ANC workgroup MarCom, the German nautical association (Nautischer Verein) and many other associations. Niedersachsen Ports campaigns for sustainable solutions in cooperation with its various stakeholders and actively participates in interbranch associations and different workgroups. In the EU project»dual Ports«, Niedersachsen Ports is working together with numerous other ports in the North Sea region on measures and strategies for sustainable-oriented ports. In this project, which is financed through the INTERREG programme, the different ports are working on different subjects. This includes, for example, liquid natural gas, hydrogen, port lighting, contaminated soil and sustainable port management concepts. With regard to this project, sustainability management and an LED lighting project are being implemented in Emden by NPorts. For the latter, in addition to energy-saving lamps, intelligent, need-based is also being used. The cooperating partners profit from each other and achieve synergy effects through the transfer of knowledge and experience, as well as the exchange of contents and. 29

30 7 Outlook Niedersachsen Ports intent for the future is to further intensify the sustainable port management. This means that at all locations we will have to comprehensively work on comparing our own contributions to the benchmarks of doing business in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way and to adapt accordingly. This year Niedersachsen Ports is working on a corporate-wide sustainability strategy. For this purpose, we are identifying areas of topics and deduce fields of action. For all important topics, parameters and goals are developed and fine-tuned, they represent the indicators that we are measured by. In addition, the started projects are scheduled to continue and be fortified in the next years. At the same time, we are intensifying the dialogue with partners and stakeholders of the seaport, in order to step up the environmental topics and to increase the sustainable development of the location in a joint effort. In this effort, the initiative hafen + serves as a proponent and umbrella for the sustainability activities of Niedersachsen Ports and the Jade Weser Port, under which the sustainable port alignment will be further developed. In order to further systematize the sustainability efforts, Niedersachsen Ports is planning the introduction of a sustainability management. Its purpose is to consequently implement the sustainability strategy goals. 30

31 8 Contact Information Port: Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG Contact: Werner Repenning Position: Head of Staff Division Corporate Development Address: Hindenburgstraße Oldenburg Phone: +49 (44 1) Fax: +49 (44 1) wrepenning@nports.de Internet: Port: Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG Contact: Dr. Matthäus Wuczkowski Position: Environmental Coordinator Address: Hindenburgstraße Oldenburg Phone: +49 (44 1) Fax: +49 (44 1) mwuczkowski@nports.de Internet: Port: Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG Contact: Hans-Gerd Janssen Position: Branch Manager Adress: Cuxhaven branch Am Schleusenpriel Cuxhaven Phone: +49 (4721) Fax: +49 (4721) cuxhaven@nports.de Internet: 31

32 Attachment: Selected Best Practice Examples Choice measures, which Niedersachsen Ports has applied, and which are major contributors to the environmental protection, are explained hereafter A) Video Conference System SOLUTION FORM Port: Cuxhaven (Niedersachsen Ports) 1. Description: Video Conference System B) Retrofitted lighting sources in the storehouse in Cuxhaven The following Best Practice example was conceptualized by the Energy Scouts in the Branch Cuxhaven and later on implemented. SOLUTION FORM Niedersachsen Ports port locations are spread out, from Emden on the River Ems, along Niedersachsen s North Sea shore, to Stade on the River Elbe, and a central location in Oldenburg. From Oldenburg, the travel distance to the branches is between 30 and 130 kilometres, depending on the location. Due to the need for discussion and consensus, meetings are scheduled, which leads to frequent travel between the locations. In order to reduce expenses for travel by car, reduce man hours, energy consumption and thus achieve a reduction in CO₂ output, Niedersachsen Ports has installed a video conference room in each location. Each room features a touch screen system with 65 or 84 diagonal screen width, depending on the local situation, plus a video system. Financial Relief: It is expected that Niedersachsen Ports will generate savings from the use of the video conference system, materializing from reduced travel costs, reduced wages due to reduced working hours on the road and lower leasing rates for the vehicles. Port: Cuxhaven (Niedersachsen Ports) 1. Description: Retrofitted lighting sources in the storehouse in Cuxhaven Retrofitting is a process, in which mercury vapor tubes are replaced by LED tubes, without the need to replace the entire lamp. This process requires the replacement of the starter capacitor with an override starter, and to either remove or override the ballast. This project swapped out 51 mercury vapor tubes with a consumption of 58 watts for LED tubes with a power consumption of only 20 watts. In this process, the electrical permit is not voided, as long as the retrofitting instructions of the LED tube manufacturer are being followed. Added value of the measure a 250% higher life expectancy (20,000 h compared to 8,000 h) lower technician/installer costs lower power consumption (up to 60% electr. energy savings) immediate 100% brightness (no flickering) Higher light yield with lower power consumption 32

33 Saving: The retrofitting process dramatically reduces the life cycle costs of lamps (incl. energy consumption, maintenance, etc.), as long as those lamps feature an adequate life expectancy. Figures - Data - Facts: Annual energy conumption before retrofitting kw Annual energy spend Annual energy consumption after retrofitting kw Annual energy spend after retrofitting 364 Annual energy savings 710 Labor costs for retrofitting 306 Material costs 660 CO 2 savings 0,4 metrical tons Amortization time 1,23 years Contact for information Port of: Cuxhaven (Niedersachsen Ports) Contact name: Dr. Matthäus Wuczkowski Job title/position Referent Nachhaltigkeit Postal address: Hindenburgstr , Oldenburg Telephone: Fax: mwuczkowski@nports.de Website: Environmental aspects involved air emissions change in awareness Stakeholders involved Branch Management Energy Supply (Utilities) Engineers Apprentices Gedruckt auf FSC-Papier. Mondi Color-Copy. 33

34 How you can contact us Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG Niederlassung Cuxhaven Am Schleusenpriel Cuxhaven T: +49 (47 21) cuxhaven@nports.de February 2018 Our Ports. Your Future.