On May 14, New York Mayor Eric Adams announced an agreement between New York and New Jersey port authorities, the Governor of New York, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
This agreement charts the city's course to transform the outdated Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a modern, green port terminal.
The container terminal, centrally located in Red Hook along the Brooklyn waterfront, will serve as an urban micromobility center for goods coming into the five boroughs.
"In Red Hook, we want to focus on cargo destined for New York City. 50% of the goods that come in today are barged back to New Jersey, get on a truck, and come back into the city. It doesn’t make any sense. We want this to be a terminal where food can come in by boat and be delivered to the five boroughs using electric vehicles, barges, or high-speed boats," says Andrew Kimball, president, and CEO of NYCEDC.
New York City aims to reduce truck traffic into the city, promote local maritime transport, create jobs, and develop a vibrant neighborhood near the port.
Norway’s History in Red Hook
Red Hook holds a significant place in Norwegian maritime and emigration history. In the early 1920s, the collapse of international trade left a thousand Norwegian sailors in New York jobless and unable to return home. Many settled on a garbage dump called Ørkenen Sur at Erie Basin in Red Hook. Ørkenen Sur became home to many unemployed Norwegian sailors until the slum was demolished in 1934.
Norwegian Study Tour
Less than two weeks after Mayor Adams' announcement, a delegation from New York, led by Andrew Kimball, was in Norway for a study tour. The Red Hook terminal could be as large as the Sjursøya container terminal in Oslo, which handles up to 300 thousand containers annually.
"There has been underinvestment in the Brooklyn Marine Terminal for over thirty years. They handle about 60 thousand containers a year. We believe we can easily increase this five- or sixfold," says Kimball.
By New York standards, the Red Hook terminal will be small. Most cargo volume arrives at the container ports on Staten Island (Port Liberty New York Terminal) and New Jersey (Port Newark Container Terminal). The Port of New York & New Jersey handled 9.5 million containers in 2022.
Nevertheless, the Red Hook terminal has the potential to become a key component of New York's maritime infrastructure, reducing local truck traffic, cutting emissions, and creating neighborhoods designed for people and urban life.
"It's exciting that New York is developing an urban container terminal similar to Oslo's. Both locations have terminals conveniently located close to customers. Shipping cargo to an urban port reduces traffic from the road network. It also enhances local delivery using electric trucks," says Heidi Neilson, Head of Planning and Environment, Port of Oslo.
Green Solutions and Innovation
The New York delegation had a comprehensive five-day program in Norway. The overarching theme was offshore wind power and green solutions in the port sector. The delegation visited Equinor in Bergen in connection with an offshore wind project that Equinor and NYCEDC have planned south of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. They also explored the Northern Lights carbon capture project on the continental shelf.
The final part of the study tour included a meeting at Oslo City Hall with Anita Leirvik North, City Councilor for Culture and Business Development (owner of Port of Oslo), and a trip to Nesodden on an electric ferry.
"This part of the tour is about understanding Port of Oslo and its swift transition to zero emissions. It is highly relevant to us as we plan the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which spans just over 100 acres," Kimball said after the meeting.
At City Hall, Kimball and the delegation were introduced to Hafslund AS, Oslo's energy company. Hafslund Oslo Celsio will implement carbon capture at the Klemetsrud waste facility. Liquid carbon will be transported by ship from Port of Oslo and deposited on the continental shelf, cutting 17% of Oslo's greenhouse gas emissions.
"It's encouraging that New York aims to develop a port terminal and neighborhood inspired by Oslo. We have made significant progress in electrifying the port, and that's being noticed. Oslo's goal is to become the world's first zero-emission city. Its location by the fjord with an urban port where goods arrive by sea and are handled without emissions contributes to the green transition. New York is at the forefront of innovation and business development, so it will be exciting to follow the project at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal," says Anita Leirvik North, Oslo City Councilor for Culture and Business Development.
Urban Development Finances Port Development
In 2000, Oslo City Council approved the Fjord City project that led to the redevelopment of central port areas. Urban development finances zero-emission infrastructure and the streamlining of port activities in Sydhavna.
"Residential development and passenger traffic are concentrated in the urban port, while freight traffic and port-related industry are developed in Sydhavna. This provides predictability for long-term planning of the zero-emission port and is a crucial prerequisite for future growth of maritime transport," says Neilson.
Construction along the waterfront is increasing in New York and Oslo. At Sjursøya, Norcem and Unicon produce concrete, which electric trucks transport short distances to local construction sites. Aggregates like sand, stone, and gravel arrive by ship.
"We want the Brooklyn Marine Terminal to be where construction materials can come in, just like Oslo. Bringing massive construction loads in by truck is extremely difficult in New York. Our master plan will also include housing and green spaces on the periphery. Housing can subsidize the development of a modern port. We’ve seen this implemented in Oslo and learned a lot," says Kimball.
Exploring Electric Ferries
After the meeting at City Hall, the New York delegation walked the short distance to the Nesodden ferry. New York has an extensive ferry network it wants to electrify.
"New Yorkers increasingly choose to travel by water. We want to convert to electric ferries, so some important lessons are here. We also have a very robust cruise industry and shore power. Capacity needs to expand as the size of ships has exploded in recent years," says Kimball.
In Oslo, local ferries, international ferries, and cruise ships access shore power at the urban port.
"First, we built shore power facilities for international ferries, which had the greatest potential to cut emissions. By 2025, every ship segment in the urban and industrial port will have access to shore power. This year, we're opening shore power facilities for cruise ships at Revierkaia and container ships at Sjursøya," says Neilson.
Neilson appreciates the project at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. She told Kimball:
"It's interesting that you want to build housing and develop logistics solutions as part of your port. In most port cities, the idea is to shift cargo traffic away from people and the city. We must remember that we, as city residents, want the goods. If they don't come by sea, they will come by rail or road. Expanding the road network and long traffic jams negatively impact people's lives much more than maritime transport. So, the way you're thinking is brilliant. There is an opportunity to holistically manage passengers, goods, commerce, urban development, and housing. It's a unique approach, and I'm so glad to have you here."
Over the next 12 to 18 months, Kimball and his colleagues will study several smaller ports and develop a master plan for the Red Hook, Brooklyn port area.
Port of Oslo aims to cut emissions by 85% by 2030 and eventually become a zero-emission port.
"We’ve come a long way in building infrastructure for a zero-emissions port in Oslo. We are now making appropriate and important investments in the port city of Oslo. We’re all working against the clock to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Everyone must take responsibility for the green transition. It's important to collaborate and share knowledge to succeed," says Neilson.