Port accessThe conference on the future of sustainable short sea shipping will be held on 29 and 30 April at the Itsasmuseum
On 29 and 30 April the Port of Bilbao will host the Coastlink 2025 Conference, the event which brings together international experts from the port and short sea shipping industry.
The annual event of the neutral pan-European network dedicated to the promotion of Short Sea Shipping and intermodal transport networks will be held at the Itsasmuseum in Bilbao, where experts in Short Sea Shipping (SSS), intermodal logistics and sustainability will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. These include the resurgence of short sea shipping and its impact on ports, the expansion of green and digital corridors as a path towards more sustainable maritime routes, and the introduction of sustainability criteria in the value chain and multimodal logistics networks.
Other aspects to be discussed at the conference include the development of port infrastructure needed to boost both short sea shipping and the energy transition, adapting to the new trends and needs of the sector; the repercussions for ports and shipping companies of the introduction of the Emissions Trading System (ETS), especially in short sea shipping; and the expansion of OPS (Onshore Power Supply), with the need to speed up power supply in ports to meet the growing demand.
Coastlink 2025 will be the meeting point for the different players involved in short sea shipping transport and logistics, including shipping companies, ports, logistics companies, terminal operators, cargo handlers and freight forwarding organisations. The event will be opened by Nick Lambert, Co-Founder and Director of NLA International Ltd, and Ricardo Barkala, President of the Bilbao Port Authority.
Over the two days, more than 25 speakers, experts in various aspects of SSS, will take part in six sessions. They will include, amongst others, Stephen Carr, Commercial Director of Peel Ports Group; Johan-Paul Verschuure, Director of Rebel Ports & Logistics; Elena Seco, President of the Spanish Association for the Promotion of SSS; Andima Ormaetxe, Director of Operations, Sales and Logistics of the Bilbao Port Authority; Derek McGlashan, Vice-President for Energy, Maritime and Sustainability at ELIRE; Kyra Lemmens, the Commercial Manager of the Port of Moerdijk; Igor Salguero, Director of the Bilbao Terminal and H2 expert at Tepsa; and Maurice Delattre, Regional Director (Europe) of the Port of Amsterdam. Also taking part will be representatives from BMT, British Ports Association, b9energy, CMA CGM, Finnlines, IKEA Supply AG, JG Maritime Solutions, Logistics UK, NLA International Ltd, Port of Aberdeen, Portsmouth International Port, P&O Ferrymasters, Shell, Tailwind Shipping Lines, Transport Malta and UK Chamber of Shipping.
In addition to attending presentations, round table discussions and enjoying networking opportunities, those present at Coastlink will have the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the facilities of the Port of Bilbao. They will also be given the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive dinner at the San Mamés football stadium, the venue for the forthcoming UEFA Europa League final.
Bilbao, a port committed to sustainable transport and energy transition
Bilbao is a benchmark in short sea shipping traffic in the European Atlantic. At present, the Port of Bilbao handles 47% of seaborne container traffic between Spain and the European Atlantic countries, consolidating its leadership in this field. Furthermore, the Port of Bilbao forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), as the central port of the Atlantic Corridor.
One of the keys to the competitiveness of the Port of Bilbao lies in its excellent intermodal offer, with rail connections with more than 22 logistics centres on the Iberian Peninsula. In 2024, 27% of container traffic in and out of the port was by rail, well above the Spanish average and on a par with the main European ports. This connectivity enables more efficient operations, reduces emission levels and improves terminal productivity.
Environmental sustainability, competitive services and the generation of economic growth are the strategic cornerstones of the Port of Bilbao, with the development of greener and more digital maritime transport corridors as an additional priority. This is reflected in the MoU signed between the Port of Bilbao and the ports of Amsterdam and Duisburg to jointly work on the development of a renewable hydrogen corridor between the Basque Country and the centre of continental Europe.
In addition, the Port is also taking forward the BilbOPS project to electrify the docks, which will contribute to a 40% reduction in emissions from vessels during their stay in port. The first phase of this initiative, already underway and scheduled for completion in early 2026, will require an investment of 4.7 million euros, co-funded by a grant of 4.3 million euros from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The second phase will start in 2025 and finish in 2027, with a planned budget of 55.4 million euros. This will be partially financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Funds) and the rest by the Bilbao Port Authority itself. In addition, a loan of 80 million euros has been secured with the European Investment Bank (EIB), part of which will be used to finance this project. The energy consumed will come partly from renewable sources, such as an array of PV solar panels, the project for which has been put out to tender for 15.6 million euros.
The choice of Bilbao as the venue for the Coastlink conference reflects the commitment of the port to the development of short sea shipping and sustainable logistics. The event will bring the advantages of intermodality closer to the port community and its customers, and will be an important forum for addressing the challenges facing the sector in Europe.
