Many ports today want to improve the information flow in the logistics chain to be able to make port calls more efficient and thereby reduce the waiting times for ships, terminals and other operators in the logistics chain. The Port of Gävle is part of two ongoing projects, where digital tools and improvement of the current regulatory and structural framework in the port are being evaluated. The example calculations made in this study show that the potential to reduce emissions at sea is great even at minor speed reductions. For example, the annual greenhouse gas emissions for all incoming vessels would decrease by 8 300 tonnes of CO2-e if the ships would lower their speed at sea from last port by only 5%. This can be compared to effects from a shorter time at berth that not only can reduce emissions from ships quayside but also from ships at anchor, due to shorter waiting times. The potential reduction with 7% shorter times at berth is between 600 and 900 tonnes of CO2-e/year and the reduction at anchor is estimated to be between 825 and 3 860 tonnes of CO2-e/year.
The new digital solutions in combination with a new port framework open the possibility for ports to improve planning and communication of time slots at quay for arriving ships. With less time spent in port and guaranteed time slots at arrival, the ships no longer must compete to get to the port first and can sail in reduced speed at sea.