Canadian ports link up with North Sea Port to accelerate energy transition

Five Canadian ports have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dutch-Belgian cross-border North Sea Port to collaborate on strengthening trade and accelerating energy transition.

The port authorities of Montréal, Québec, Saguenay, Sept-Îles, and Trois-Rivières signed the MoU with North Sea Port on January 30, 2025.

The MoU builds on a previous cooperation agreement from 2018 between the Port of Québec and North Sea Port. By adding the ports of Montréal, Saguenay, Sept-Îles, and Trois-Rivières to the existing cooperation, the new agreement provides a framework for concrete initiatives in trade, innovation, and energy transition, the ports explained.

The cooperation will focus on further developing the bulk sector and optimizing logistics chains between Saguenay-Saint Laurent’s Canadian hinterland, the port area of North Sea Port and north-western Europe. In addition, the ports vowed to share knowledge and insights to improve planning and operations. 

Technology and circular economy will also be included, with the ports promoting cooperation between customers, research institutes, universities, and start-ups to share knowledge and promote technological innovations such as artificial intelligence in port operations.

Furthermore, the ports will actively collaborate to reduce their carbon footprint through low-carbon energy production, greening of port areas, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency initiatives. The agreement aims to define sustainable approaches for the medium and long term.

“Canada is North Sea Port’s fourth most important trading partner in terms of cargo throughput. Our location in Western Europe is of great strategic importance for cooperation with the ports of Montréal, Québec, Saguenay, Sept-Îles en Trois-Rivières. Cooperation with these five Canadian ports can only be beneficial,” said Maarten den Dekker, Chief Sustainability en Digital Officer of North Sea Port. 

“We’re proud to establish this collaborative partnership with North Sea Port, linking the Saguenay-St. Lawrence corridor with a vibrant region like the North Sea. The aim is to foster active collaboration between the two groups for mutually profitable benefits on important issues and opportunities like decarbonization, business intelligence, and innovation,” emphasized Julie Gascon, Olga Farman, Carl Laberge, Pierre D. Gagnon, and Gaétan Boivin, CEOs of the port authorities of Montréal, Québec, Saguenay, Sept-Îles, and Trois-Rivières respectively.