Since 2001, port economist Larissa van der Lugt has been affiliated with Erasmus University Rotterdam. After working for consultancy firms and the Ministry of Infrastructure, she returned to the university where she once studied. As port economist and director of the Erasmus Center for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (Erasmus UPT), Larissa has taken knowledge development and education in port economics to the next level. She bridges economic and management theory with the real-world dynamics of ports and transport.
City and Port: A Source of Strength and of Tension
The relationship between Rotterdam and its port is both essential and complex. The port delivers significant economic and societal value through accessibility, employment, energy, and revenue, but also brings challenges such as pollution, noise, and congestion. “This mutual dependency has many faces,” says Larissa. “And that creates a dilemma for the city of Rotterdam.”
“Due to expansion and upscaling, such as the Maasvlakte extension, the port has physically moved further away from the city, which has increased the psychological distance. On top of that, the climate crisis has put the port’s license to operate under pressure. We are becoming more aware of the environmental impacts, such as air pollution.”
Smart Choices for Sustainable Growth
The core challenge for city and port is finding a balance between economic growth and sustainability—something Erasmus UPT works on every day. “Our centre explores the economic impact of technological innovation and how sustainable practices in ports can be accelerated. We support better decision-making on port and mobility projects by developing strategic insights and analysing both economic and societal effects. This contributes to a broader understanding of prosperity—one that includes social and environmental impact.”
“One example is our work on the energy transition and sustainability in the Port of Rotterdam. We investigate the implementation of sustainable technologies—like shore power for ships—and how the port can support the circular economy. In this way, the port becomes not just a source of emissions, but also a crucial link in sustainable urban development. Erasmus UPT collaborates closely with governments, businesses, and other research institutions to make this happen.”
Science As A Driver of the Future Port
Innovation is essential to making the Port of Rotterdam future-proof. Erasmus UPT works alongside TU Delft and Wageningen University in this mission. “It’s a very fruitful partnership,” Larissa explains. “TU Delft contributes cutting-edge technologies—like artificial intelligence—to help make port operations more sustainable. Think electrification of port processes and AI-driven optimisation of energy use. Wageningen University, meanwhile, focuses on the circular economy, where the port plays a role in waste processing and the delivery of sustainable energy—such as residual heat for urban heating. Erasmus UPT adds the economic and organisational perspective to ensure these innovations are actually implemented in the port. This collaboration is speeding up sustainability and strengthening the port’s future resilience.”
Accelerating Sustainability Together
The path to a more sustainable port holds great promise, but it isn’t without hurdles. “High investment risks keep many companies from rolling out sustainable initiatives on a large scale,” Larissa warns. “Shore power for ships is a good example—it’s still in the early stages of implementation. Here, the government plays a critical role: not just in encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices, but in enabling them to do so. A strong partnership between business, government and academia is essential if we want to bring these innovations to scale.
