MAGPIE PORT CITY WORKSHOP:
The Transformation of Lower Rhine’s Port Ecosystem in Germany
Wesel, Germany – September 17th, 2024
In collaboration with DeltaPort and the AIVP – International Association Cities and Ports, the MAGPIE consortium hosted the MAGPIE Port-City Workshop in Wesel, Germany, on the 17th of September. This pivotal event delved into the application of MAGPIE innovations and solutions within the living port ecosystem of DeltaPort in the Lower Rhine region. By understanding the MAGPIE project and the DeltaPort ecosystem and engaging in discussions with locals, the workshop aimed to address the critical question: How can the MAGPIE project effectively engage with the local community of the county of Wesel?
More than 100 participants from across Europe gathered for this public workshop to learn and discuss more about sustainable logistics, decarbonization, and digitalization. A focus was placed on the role of inland ports and river logistics as well as the connection between seaports and the hinterland during this workshop.
Event Overview:
• Date: September 17th, 2024
• Venue: Welcome Hotel, Rheinpromenade 10, 46487 Wesel, Germany
The workshop was designed to be an inclusive platform, welcoming all interested parties to register and contribute their perspectives. The aim was to obtain perspectives on how the MAGPIE project can be included in local and regional actions and what aspects need to be potentially adapted. The workshop will be introduced by the hosting partner DeltaPort the coordinating partner of the MAGPIE consortium, setting the stage for a series of insightful and impactful discussions.
Agenda:
• Morning Plenary Sessions: These sessions featured the latest updates from the MAGPIE consortium and presentations by local partners on their projects and initiatives. Speakers included Andreas Stolte, CEO of DeltaPort; Reyer Will, MAGPIE project manager; Ingo Brohl, District Administrator Kreis Wesel; Ulrike Westkamp, Mayor of Wesel; Staatssekretär Viktor Haase, Ministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen; Dr. Klaus Krumme, Executive Director Joint Centre Urban Systems (JUS) University Duisburg-Essen; and Arne-Jan Polman, MAGPIE project coordinator. The morning was moderated by Gunnar Platz from PLANCO Consulting GmbH.
• Afternoon Breakout Sessions: Participants engaged in detailed discussions on sustainable transport modalities and green energy in ports. The moderators were Martine Gatsonides from NMT and Muriel Andurand from Circoe. Speakers included Andreas Stolte, CEO of DeltaPort; Till Kösters, Planco; Jasper Tanis, Ecorys; Moritz Kroell, H2PEG; Gloria Gonçalves, EDP; and Peter van Wijlick, Port of Venlo and PIONEERS project.
3 Key Highlights:
• Harmonious Port Development: Exploring strategies for port development that align with the interests and well-being of the local population. Especially through their capacity to incite a sustainable transformation and climate-friendly modal shift.
• Regional and Urban Development: Emphasizing the vital role of ports in fostering regional and urban growth. A strong focus was placed on ports roles in providing goods, jobs, and testing grounds for new technology of use in the national energy transition.
• Green Port of the Future: Two discussions ran in parallel: one focused on innovative transport concepts and one focused on the energy transition towards greener solutions. In both of these discussions, various port city actors considered local or MAGPIE solutions and identified the role the port needs to take to facilitate their implementation and create a green port of the future.
About MAGPIE:
Our project has the ambition to force a breakthrough in the supply and use of green energy carriers in transport to, from and within ports. We will create energy efficiencies and support developments that make green energy carriers available to the users. By demonstrating and implementing smart solutions in the realm of digitalization and automation, we will facilitate and contribute to the decarbonization of port related transport.
www.magpie-ports.eu
Press contacts:
Caya HEIN, chein@aivp.org
Annabelle ODIEVRE, aodievre@aivp.org
