Service Terminal Rotterdam (STR) has launched Project GreenSTR, a major infrastructure expansion adding approximately 100,000 cbm of specialized tankage on an adjacent plot in the Port of Rotterdam. Partnering with Vicoma and Antea Group, the project will expand the terminal’s capacity to store and blend advanced low-carbon marine fuels, including biodiesel and (m)ethanol, to meet surging compliance demand.
Rotterdam | June 17, 2026 – Service Terminal Rotterdam (STR), a critical bunker infrastructure asset in the Port of Rotterdam, has announced the launch of Project GreenSTR. The major expansion initiative is explicitly engineered to address the acute shortage of dedicated, large-scale infrastructure required for the storage, handling, and blending of low-carbon marine fuels.
Situated in the industrial heart of Europe’s largest bunkering hub, STR currently operates as a highly flexible fuel oil facility optimized for the maritime sector. The terminal’s existing layout features versatile jetty configurations capable of handling various vessel classes, from shallow-draft inland bunker barges to large ocean-going product tankers, alongside sophisticated bio-blending capabilities.
Technical Scope: Expanding Capacity for Next-Gen Fuels
Project GreenSTR will utilize a vacant land plot immediately adjacent to STR’s current operational footprint. The expansion will add approximately 100,000 cubic meters (cbm) of state-of-the-art storage capacity.
Unlike traditional heavy fuel oil (HFO) infrastructure, the new tankage is being engineered from the ground up to comply with the distinct chemical properties, material compatibility constraints, and safety profiles of advanced alternative fuels.
Infrastructure Evolution: STR Baseline vs. Project GreenSTR
| Parameter | Existing STR Footprint | New Vacant Plot Expansion (Project GreenSTR) |
| Core Focus | Conventional marine fuel storage, conditioning, and traditional bio-blending. | Dedicated infrastructure for next-generation, low-carbon alternative marine fuels. |
| Storage Capacity | 242,000 cbm across two modern tank farms. | Adds 100,000 cbm of specialized new tankage. |
| Primary Product Slate | Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), Marine Gas Oil (MGO), and standard bio-distillate blends. | Advanced Marine Biodiesel (FAME/HVO), Methanol, and Ethanol. |
| Marine Logistics | 450m total quay length supporting multi-vessel jetties, board-to-board, and lay-by services. | Directly integrated with existing marine infrastructure via interconnected pipeline corridors (“bridges”). |
The expanded product slate will include:
- Marine Biodiesels: Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) straight storage and high-concentration bio-blending.
- Methanol and Ethanol: Specialized chemical-grade storage tanks capable of handling low-flashpoint marine fuels, which are seeing exponential order book growth among major container lines.
To execute the technical realization of the site, STR has selected Vicoma as its official engineering partner. Regulatory compliance, environmental impact assessments, and licensing are being managed in coordination with Antea Group Nederland.
Alternative Fuel Hub
The timing of Project GreenSTR aligns with tightening European regulatory pressures. With the FuelEU Maritime initiative penalizing high-carbon intensity fuels and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) ramping up its maritime sector phase-in, the demand for verified bio-blended distillates and synthetic fuels in the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) region is soaring.
| Regulatory Driver | Market Impact on Bunkering | STR Infrastructure Alignment |
| EU ETS Maritime | Puts a direct price on carbon emissions for vessels calling at EU ports. | Enables shipowners to source high-ratio bio-blended fuels to offset carbon liabilities. |
| FuelEU Maritime | Mandates a structural reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of energy used onboard. | Provides the physical infrastructure required to supply compliant low-flashpoint fuels like methanol. |
For the Rotterdam bunkering ecosystem, the addition of 100,000 cbm of flexible alternative fuel tankage helps alleviate a critical supply-chain bottleneck. While global production of green methanol and advanced biofuels is scaling up, port-side storage and high-precision blending facilities have frequently lagged behind, constraining the physical availability of alternative marine fuels at the flange. Project GreenSTR represents a significant commercial step toward securing Rotterdam’s long-term status as the premier decarbonization hub for global shipping.
About Service Terminal Rotterdam (STR)
Located strategically within the Botlek area of the Port of Rotterdam, Service Terminal Rotterdam (STR) is a premier independent bunker fuel infrastructure asset and a critical logistical hub serving the wider Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) marine fuel market. Characterized by a proactive, service-driven operational model, STR specializes in high-flexibility storage, product conditioning, and precision blending solutions tailored for international marine fuel traders and suppliers.
Core Assets and Infrastructure Capacity
- Storage Footprint: Operates a modern, purpose-built terminal boasting a total storage capacity of 242,000 cubic meters (cbm) distributed across two highly secure tank farms.
- Berthing and Marine Access: Features a total quay length of 450 meters, equipped with versatile, deep-water jetties capable of accommodating multiple vessel classes simultaneously, ranging from specialized inland bunker barges to large ocean-going tankers.
- Ancillary Marine Services: Offers integrated, high-efficiency operational capabilities including board-to-board (ship-to-ship) transfers, dedicated lay-by berthing for vessel maintenance or waiting periods, and Nitrogen (N2) purging and blanketing services for product stabilization and safety.
Strategic Market Positioning
STR’s infrastructure is explicitly optimized to meet the rapid turnaround times and complex specifications demanded by the modern bunkering downstream supply chain. Positioned at the axis of northwestern Europe’s shipping corridors, the terminal combines advanced thermal management and multi-tank connectivity to deliver sophisticated bio-blending and fuel oil homogenization. This technical flexibility allows market participants to rapidly formulate regulatory-compliant, low-sulfur, and bio-blended marine fuels in direct alignment with evolving regional environmental mandates.
Source: Service Terminal Rotteram