World’s first: Circular Route at Europort shows how smart use of raw materials is futureproofing the maritime sector
ROTTERDAM: During Europort 2025 from 4 to 7 November, Rotterdam Ahoy will be the stage for the world’s first Circular Route: an innovative tour of frontrunners who demonstrate that smarter use of raw materials is not only good for the planet, but also economically and strategically smart. Fifteen leading maritime (manufacturing) companies will present how circular design, construction, maintenance, and reuse of materials, components, systems or even entire ships contribute to a future-proof and competitive sector.
AEGIR-Marine, Alewijnse, Allard Europe/Royal IHC, THB Verhoef, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, Holland Shipyards Group, Damen Shipyards, Rotterdam Ship Repair, NIM (Netherlands Innovation Society), CEAD, Van Oord, Wärtsilä, Econowind, Conoship, and Shipsonic demonstrate concrete applications of circular thinking, from modular design and remanufacturing to sustainable retrofits and high-quality recycling or dismantling.The route shows how a strategy on material use enables companies to save costs, reduce their dependency on raw materials in the supply chain, and achieve a stronger competitive position through smart innovation.
Each exhibition day, guided tours will be held for national and international delegations, policymakers, and professionals, focusing on these 15 circular pioneers and embedded in broader Europort themes such as energy transition, human capital, and ship finance. Visitors can also explore the route individually with a special map, soon available on the Europort website.
“The maritime manufacturing industry is at a tipping point,” say Sylvia and Marjolein Boer (Maritime Sisters) and Sabine Biesheuvel (BlueCity), the initiators of the Circular Route. “We need to shift from a declining sector to a future-proof one — capable of delivering the vessels our country needs for its strategic sectors. Circularity is not a buzzword, but an economic and strategic imperative. The Circular Route demonstrates how today’s maritime frontrunners are securing the competitive strength of tomorrow.”
Participant Wärtsilä demonstrates how this works in practice: “With reconditioning and our QS50K™ coating, we extend the life of engine parts up to four times, saving raw materials, 70% CO₂, and 30 to 50% in costs,” says Dennis Karlsen (Sales Manager Reconditioning & In-situ Region Central Europe) of Wärtsilä. “Together with the other participating companies, we are demonstrating that circular thinking is the new standard for reliability and competitiveness.”
About the initiators
The Circular Route is an initiative of Maritime Sisters and BlueCity, in collaboration with Europort, and is made possible by the City of Rotterdam (Rotterdam Maritime Capital of Europe), the province of Zuid-Holland, and the National Shipbuilding Office NL. It is supported by The Dutch Maritime Network (NML) and Netherlands Maritime Technology. (NMT-IRO). The Route is part of a multi-year programme by Maritime Sisters and BlueCity aimed at structurally embedding circularity on the maritime agenda. The programme builds on an extensive exploration among 30 market parties, which revealed that the sector is already moving towards circular solutions and holds great potential for further scaling.