World’s First Capital Partner For Shore Power Launched To Help Ports Go Green

A new company called Seacap was launched on May 26 with the goal of making it easier for ports to invest in green and future-ready infrastructure.

Backed by a European investment fund that has set aside over €300 million for this purpose, Seacap is being described as the world’s first global capital partner focused entirely on sustainable port development.

The company is based in Norway and was founded by Robert Svendsen, Styrk Bekkenes, and Torvald Ulland Reiestad. The main focus of Seacap is to support both new and existing port facilities with investments in shore power systems and other zero-emission infrastructure.

Seacap said it wants to eliminate the biggest challenge ports face when trying to go green-access to funding. The founders explained that many ports, especially those owned by municipalities, often have limited budgets and must prioritise between critical public needs like schools, hospitals, and transport. Because of this, green port investments often get delayed or dropped altogether.

The team behind Seacap has created a financial model that offers long-term certainty and easy-to-understand structures. This means ports don’t have to use their own equity or take on high investment risks. Seacap aims to act as a long-term partner for ports looking to reduce emissions and modernse their infrastructure.

The company’s approach includes support for large-scale and phased developments, such as infrastructure upgrades, port expansions, and the integration of clean energy systems. According to the team, this model allows ports to start acting immediately instead of waiting five or ten years to secure funds.

Seacap stated that there is a growing demand from ship operators and port users for cleaner operations, and many European ports are ready to take action. However, the lack of financing continues to hold back progress. The company aims to fill this gap and help ports take the lead in the global transition toward zero-emission shipping.

Norway will be the starting point for this initiative, with Seacap planning to expand across Europe soon. The founders believe Norway is naturally positioned to lead due to its strong national policies on electrification and environmental sustainability.

The Norwegian government has already committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 70-75% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, which builds on its earlier goal of a 55% cut by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

The country has also mandated that all ferries operating along its coast must shift to electric propulsion by 2030.

Reference: Seacap

Source: Maritime Shipping News