Haropa – Port of Rouen, preserving the life quality of the communities along the Seine

HAROPA - Port de Rouen occupies a site along the Seine, from the river mouth on the English Channel to the city of Rouen, 80 kilometres inland. Maritime and river traffic is crucial for Rouen, and accounts for the wide diversity of activities present in the city, from cruises to cereal export. One of the biggest challenges is preserving quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of people in the vicinity of the port installations. Incidentally, “Quality of life” and “Health” together form Goal no. 9 of AIVP’s 2030 Agenda. Keen to highlight best practices in this area, we spoke to Mr Xavier LEMOINE, Director of Territorial Development and Environment at HAROPA - Port de Rouen. HAROPA - Port de Rouen has been an active member of AIVP since 1989. AIVP – You recently announced that the EU Commission is set to co-fund your plan to install quayside cold ironing terminals at your facilities along the Seine. Another project to create an electric-powered river shuttle between the two banks of the Seine has been tested in Rouen since 2019, and represents another best practice for cutting CO² emissions. What are you expecting from these two initiatives? And more generally, what is your strategy for continuing to reduce air pollution? Mr Xavier LEMOINE, HAROPA - Port de Rouen - Reducing not just air pollution, but also greenhouse gas emissions, is an important goal in the fight against climate change. One of the key planks of HAROPA - Port de Rouen’s environmental policy is devoted to the energy transition The Port of Rouen plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable mobility and modes of transport, and is behind a number of initiatives aimed at meeting that objective. To that end, we work to promote: - Clean modes of transport. Firstly by introducing a bonus arrangement for fees as part of the ESI (Environmental Ship Index), which measures the environmental performance of seagoing vessels (CO2, SOx and NOx emissions) according to IMO rules. In 2013, HAROPA - Port de Rouen decided to reward shipping lines which operate the most environmentally-friendly vessels in Rouen. Secondly, by carrying out studies and discussions with the stakeholders concerned about providing low-carbon and carbon-free energy sources such as LNG, hydrogen, etc. at the port, to refuel ships or other means of transport. - Modal shift by introducing targeted financial incentives - Massification of the flow of goods - Services for docked ships, such as cold ironing for river goods convoys, which can replace on-board generators. In 2018, the Port of Rouen installed two terminals for freight shipping at the city quays, and is planning to gradually roll out a total of 17 terminals on the quays and at terminal buildings which house major river services. Other initiatives undertake include: - Developing renewable energies on port land and buildings, especially solar power (solar farms, roof panels, etc.). - For the Port of Rouen’s own resources, renovating port buildings and hangars to make them more energy efficient, introducing the Business Travel Plan and in particular managing the fleet of vehicles, with the purchase of a number of electric vehicles. AIVP – There have…