Nijmegen wants to ban vessels that do not have a CCNR2 engine (or a cleaner engine). Just as Rotterdam will do from 2025. The other ships that are cleaner and have a Green Award will soon be eligible for a 15% discount on port dues.

These are measures from Nijmegen's new plans to "further improve the air quality in the city over the next 10 years and improve the health of its inhabitants". A total of almost 30 measures are involved, including zero-emission zones for city logistics and a ban on old mopeds and scooters in parts of the city.

"Studies carried out in recent years have shown that shipping on the River Waal is proportionately becoming an increasing air pollutant in Nijmegen", writes the municipality in its 2020-2030 implementation programme presented this month: Towards a healthy air quality. "One of the reasons for this is that cars are becoming cleaner than ships in terms of emissions. That is why the city quickly wants extra attention for this".

Green Deal
The city council is aware that this requires national and international cooperation. That is why Nijmegen is involved in partnerships such as the European project CLINSH (which focuses on clean techniques in inland navigation) and the national Green Deal (Nijmegen is the only municipality to have signed up to this).

"Locally, Nijmegen wants to do what is possible, which is why Nijmegen, together with Rotterdam, is going to restrict access to port basins for polluting ships. Together with energy company ENGIE and container operator BCTN, the municipality is also working on an Energy Transshipment Hub for electric ships.

Less CO2
Nijmegen is also going to install more on-shore power, use downstream technologies, stimulate electric sailing and cleaner fuels, and prevent sailing degassing. After all, the municipality realises that inland navigation should not only be seen as a polluter. The implementation programme also states that "waterborne transport still emits less CO2 per cargo kilometre than road haulage. Moreover, road congestion would increase if more freight were transported by road. The European Commission's recent Green Deal calls for a significant shift from road to waterborne transport".