ZeroNorth and Vitol Trial Digital Bunker Delivery Notes in Rotterdam

ZeroNorth, Vitol and the port of Rotterdam have completed a first digital bunker delivery, marking the launch of a four-week trial.

During this period, Vitol will carry out three to four bunker deliveries in the Port of Rotterdam, using ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN) solution. The aim is to demonstrate the benefits of digital over manual bunker delivery notes by assessing time savings during bunkering, enhanced operational efficiency and improved data quality.

The trial further aims to demonstrate the solution's viability for the port’s operations, thereby enabling the Port of Rotterdam to be the first port in Europe to take steps to digitalize bunkering.

Rotterdam follows the example of the Maritime and Port Authority in Singapore (MPA), which was the world’s first port to implement and mandate eBDNs.

As two of the largest bunkering ports globally, Singapore and Rotterdam play crucial roles in catalyzing global efforts to enhance efficiency in international shipping as part of the Singapore-Rotterdam Green and Digital Shipping Corridor.

ZeroNorth and Vitol have both been part of driving this work in Singapore, where Vitol Bunkers, in close collaboration with ZeroNorth, became one of the first to adopt eBDN under MPA’s approval.

After the trial, the parties will fully integrate eBDN into the systems of the Port of Rotterdam and its suppliers, laying the foundation for a fully digitalized workflow.

Kenneth Juhls, Senior VP and Global Head of Customer Success at ZeroNorth, says “Transparency and efficiency in the bunker sector are crucial to the success of shipping’s energy transition. While the digitalization of the bunker industry is gathering pace, significant opportunities to reduce operational costs and improve transparency in fuel transactions remain untapped.”